title: Serum level of VEGF-D in patients with primary lymphedema.
abstract: Recent studies have indicated that vascular endothelial growth factor-D (VEGF-D) stimulates lymphangiogenesis in humans. Furthermore, mutations of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 (VEGFR-3) have been observed in families with hereditary lymphedema. The lack of stimulation of lymphangiogenesis could lead to production of even more VEGF-D to obtain stimulation of lymphangiogenesis resulting in a high serum level of VEGF-D. The aim of the present study was to compare the serum level of VEGF-D in patients with primary lymphedema with healthy controls. In a prospective study, the serum level of VEGF-D was determined by a solid phase ELISA in patients with primary lymphedema and compared with healthy controls. In the group of patients with primary lymphedema the serum level of VEGF-D was significantly higher compared with controls (p=0.0047). The increased levels of VEGF-D observed in the present study suggest that primary lymphedema may be based on defective stimulation of VEGFR-3.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Wilhelminenspital, Vienna, Austria. astrid.fink@wienkav.at
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fink
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kaltenegger
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frühauf
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jurecka
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Steiner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D042643:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D / Q000097:blood*; D040321:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D042643:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D; D040321:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3