title: Vascular endothelial growth factor is associated with blood brain barrier dysfunction in eosinophilic meningitis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection.
abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent vascular permeability factor and a mediator of brain edema. To assess the role of vascular endothelial growth factor in eosinophilic meningitis, vascular endothelial growth factor was measured in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood of 9 patients with eosinophilic meningitis in a cohort study. VEGFCSF was detected in 8 (90%) of 9 eosinophilic meningitis patients (range, 45-2190 pg/mL) at presentation. The mean VEGFCSF at presentation, 1 week, and 2 weeks after admission was 568 pg/mL, 751 pg/mL, and 1031 pg/mL, respectively. There was an association between VEGFCSF, CSF protein, white cell count, and eosinophil counts. The VEGFSERUM fluctuated during the 6-month follow-up period. These results indicate that vascular endothelial growth factor may be associated with blood-brain barrier disruption in patients with eosinophilic meningitis.
authors.affiliation: Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung City, and National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China. hctsai1011@yahoo.com.tw
authors.forename: Hung-Chin
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Yung-Ching
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Susan Shin-Jung
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Eng-Rin
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chuan-Min
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Yen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017185:Angiostrongylus cantonensis; D000818:Animals; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier; D004802:Eosinophilia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A