title: Systemic VEGF levels after coronary artery bypass graft surgery reflects the extent of inflammatory response.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Circulating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was studied as a substitute endpoint for treatment response after VEGF plasmid therapy. The effect of coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) on systemic VEGF levels are however largely unknown, therefore, we studied the effect of this procedure to measure VEGF levels after surgery alone.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen patients requiring CABG were included. VEGF165 levels, ischemic markers, and hematology were measured before, directly after six days after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VEGF165 in serum and whole blood levels were increased up to six days after CABG, respectively 249.6+/-50.4 to 451.7+/-56.4 (day 6) and 581.9+/-105.1 to 783.4+/-97.7 (day six). There was a close correlation of circulating VEGF165 with leukocyte counts and platelets and not with ischemic markers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Following surgery and in case of activated leukocyte and platelet counts care must be taken in the interpretation of systemic VEGF165 levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Yoka H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kusumanto
authors.forename: René A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Tio
authors.forename: Bert G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Loef
authors.forename: Wim J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Sluiter
authors.forename: Nanno H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Mulder
authors.forename: Geke A P
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Hospers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000379:methods*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery; D052279:Creatine Kinase, MB Form / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D019210:Troponin I / Q000097:blood; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019210:Troponin I; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D052279:Creatine Kinase, MB Form