title: Changes in circulating levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 after carotid endarterectomy.
abstract: It has been shown that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) are upregulated in severe carotid stenosis. However, it is unknown whether carotid endarterectomy (CEA) affects serum level of these molecules. We investigated changes in concentration of VEGF and VEGFR-2 in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy. Forty-three patients with extracranial carotid stenosis (>70%), were studied. Patients with severe vertebrobasilar stenosis, recent (<1 month) vascular event (stroke, coronary infarction, arterial thromboembolism), critical ischemia of lower extremity, recent infection, autoimmune disease or malignancy were excluded from the study. Blood samples were taken before CEA and on the second post-operative day. Thirty healthy blood donors served as a control group. We used enzyme linked immuno-absorbent assay as a method for the determination of VEGF and VEGFR-2. Pre-operative levels of VEGF (371+/-42 pg/ml) and VEGFR-2 (8424+/-356 pg/ml) were significantly elevated. There was significant decrease in both VEGF (152 pg/ml) and VEGFR-2 (1297 pg/ml) after CEA, without however reaching normal values. In asymptomatic patients and in patients with a contralateral carotid stenosis of >50%, however, the observed reduction of VEGF did not reach statistical significance. On the other hand, in the same subgroups, a major decrease of VEGFR-2 values was observed. VEGF and VEGFR-2 showed a very significant increase in serum of patients with severe carotid stenosis. These pre-operative levels decreased significantly after endarterectomy, and the changes emphasize the importance of these molecules in carotid disease progression.
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery, First Department of Surgery, University of Athens, Medical School, 116 33 Pagrati, Athens, Greece. stpapal@med.uoa.gr
authors.forename: Efstathios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Papalambros
authors.forename: Sotiris
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Georgopoulos
authors.forename: Fragiska
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sigala
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vourliotakis
authors.forename: Grigorios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chrisostomidis
authors.forename: Kyriaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Venetsanou
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hadjoulis
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Felekouras
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bastounis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery*; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2