Markers of vascular function in hypertension due to Cushing's syndrome.
BACKGROUND
There are limited data regarding the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in arterial hypertension. The aim of the study was to determine some markers of vascular function, including VEGF, active renin and prostaglandin E (2) (PGE (2)) in patients with endocrine hypertension resulting from Cushing's syndrome.


METHODS
The study comprised 32 patients with active Cushing's syndrome, 22 patients with essential hypertension, and 24 healthy volunteers.


RESULTS
VEGF was significantly elevated in the groups of patients compared to controls. VEGF levels in the patients with Cushing's syndrome were significantly higher than in patients with essential hypertension. We did not find significant differences in VEGF levels between patients with Cushing's disease and Cushing's syndrome due to adrenal tumor. Active renin and PGE (2) levels did not differ significantly among groups.


CONCLUSIONS
VEGF levels were significantly elevated in endocrine hypertension due to glucocorticoid excess. Higher VEGF levels were detected in patients with Cushing's syndrome compared to patients with essential hypertension. Based on our results, we could not judge the extent to which this VEGF elevation in the patients with Cushing's syndrome was due to the hypertension itself and/or to the presence of adrenal tumor/hyperplasia.
Zacharieva
S
S
Clinical Centre of Endocrinology and Gerontology, Medical University, 6 Damijan Gruev Str., 1303 Sofia, Bulgaria. zacharieva@uheg.medicalnet-bg.org
Atanassova
I
I
Nachev
E
E
Orbetzova
M
M
Kirilov
G
G
Kalinov
K
K
Shigarminova
R
R
D000236:Adenoma / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D047748:Pituitary ACTH Hypersecretion / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D012016:Reference Values; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D012083:Renin; D015232:Dinoprostone