Plasma vascular endothelial growth factor level is elevated in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease.
BACKGROUND
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been implicated in both angiogenesis and ischemia. However, the relationship between plasma VEGF level and coronary artery disease remains unknown.


OBJECTIVE
Plasma VEGF level may be associated with severe coronary artery disease and other cardiovascular risk factors.


METHODS
We examined plasma VEGF concentration and coronary risk factors in 73 patients who underwent coronary angiography and 70 apparently healthy control subjects. According to the number of the three major coronary vessels with significant (> or = 75%) stenosis, we divided the patients into two groups: the mild stenosis group (0- and single-vessel disease, n = 36) and the severe stenosis group (double- and triple-vessel disease, n = 37).


RESULTS
The log VEGF value of the severe stenosis group was significantly higher than that of the mild stenosis (p < 0.05) and control groups (p < 0.05). Furthermore, there was a significant positive trend in the log VEGF value according to the number of vessels with significant stenosis (p = 0.016). However, there was no significant difference in log VEGF value between the mild stenosis and control groups. Soluble vascular cellular adhesion molecule, soluble intracellular adhesion molecule, and other coronary risk factors were found to be associated with the presence of vessel stenosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Unlike established coronary risk factors, the plasma VEGF level may be associated with only severe coronary ischemia such as multiple coronary vessel disease.
Nakajima
Kei
K
First Department of Internal Medicine, National Defense Medical College, Saitama, Japan. nakake20@aol.com
Tabata
Shinji
S
Yamashita
Takeshi
T
Kusuhara
Masatoshi
M
Arakawa
Koh
K
Ohmori
Reiko
R
Yonemura
Atsushi
A
Higashi
Kenji
K
Ayaori
Makoto
M
Nakamura
Haruo
H
Ohsuzu
Fumio
F
D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000150:complications; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1