Elevated basic fibroblast growth factor levels in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.
OBJECTIVE
Cellular growth in the vascular wall, including endothelial and smooth-muscle cell proliferation, is recognized as a component of the obstructive vasculopathy observed in the small vessels of the lungs in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). We hypothesized that angiogenic growth factors may have a role in the molecular mechanisms underlying this cellular proliferation.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
Multicenter, tertiary care hospitals.


METHODS
We studied 117 patients with PAH and 60 control subjects.


METHODS
We measured levels of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the blood and urine of these subjects using an enzyme-linked immunoassay.


RESULTS
Median levels of urinary and plasma bFGF were significantly higher in patients with PAH compared to normal control subjects. There was a difference in levels of urine and plasma bFGF according to etiology of pulmonary hypertension, with the highest levels seen in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension. Levels of urine or plasma VEGF were not significantly different between patients and control subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with PAH have substantial alterations in urine and plasma levels of bFGF. This molecule may have a role as a mitogenic factor in the endothelial and smooth-muscle cell proliferation seen in PAH.
Karp Family Research Building Room 11213.1, Children's Hospital Boston, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115-5737, USA. jacques.benisty@childrens.harvard.edu
Jacques I
JI
Benisty
Vallerie V
VV
McLaughlin
Michael J
MJ
Landzberg
Jonathan D
JD
Rich
Jane W
JW
Newburger
Stuart
S
Rich
Judah
J
Folkman
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2