Synovial concentrations of the angiogenic peptides bFGF and VEGF do not discriminate rheumatoid arthritis from other forms of inflammatory arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether concentrations of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in aspirated synovial fluid can be used to distinguish rheumatoid arthritis from other forms of inflammatory arthritis.


METHODS
bFGF and VEGF concentrations were measured in aspirated synovial fluid and serum samples from 66 patients with active arthritis (clinical diagnoses: rheumatoid arthritis (35 patients), psoriatic arthritis (9), reactive arthritis (11) and arthritis UNS (11)) utilizing commercial ELISA kits.


RESULTS
In comparison with controls, elevated concentrations of VEGF were found in synovial fluid compared with in serum in all forms of arthritis. There were no significant differences in synovial fluid bFGF or VEGF concentrations between rheumatoid arthritis and the other forms of inflammatory arthritis.


CONCLUSIONS
Both serum bFGF and VEGF concentrations were increased in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Patients treated with steroids had lower synovial fluid bFGF concentrations. Synovial fluid levels of bFGF and VEGF were elevated but could not be used to distinguish rheumatoid arthritis from other forms of inflammatory arthritis.
Gudbjörnsson
B
B
Centre for Rheumatology Research, University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland.
Christofferson
R
R
Larsson
A
A
D000328:Adult; D042501:Angiogenic Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001168:Arthritis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013256:Steroids / Q000494:pharmacology; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood
D042501:Angiogenic Proteins; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D013256:Steroids; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D002097:C-Reactive Protein