Vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with psoriatic arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in patients with active psoriatic arthritis, patients with inactive psoriatic arthritis, and healthy controls. Serum VEGF levels were correlated with clinical and laboratory features in patients with active psoriasis arthritis.


METHODS
Serum samples from 14 patients with active psoriatic arthritis, 14 patients with inactive psoriatic arthritis, and 9 healthy controls were investigated. VEGF levels in the serum were measured using a sensitive sandwich ELISA.


RESULTS
The mean serum VEGF concentration in patients with active PA was 394.4 pg/ml (394 +/- 171.8), in patients with inactive PA 200.4 pg/ml (200.4 +/- 115.7), and in healthy subjects 214.3 pg/ml (214.3 +/- 162.1). Patients with active psoriasis arthritis had significantly higher levels of VEGF compared to patients with inactive psoriasis arthritis and healthy individuals (p > 0.001). In contrast, VEGF levels were comparable in patients with inactive psoriatic arthritis and controls (p =0.659). Furthermore, in patients with psoriatic arthritis, VEGF levels were positively correlated with ESR, HAQ, PASI and VAS.


CONCLUSIONS
VEGF levels may be regarded as a good indicator of active psoriasis arthritis.
Fink
A M
AM
Department of Dermatology, Wilhelminenspital, Vienna, Austria. astrid.fink@wienkav.at
Cauza
E
E
Hassfeld
W
W
Dunky
A
A
Bayer
P M
PM
Jurecka
W
W
Steiner
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics
D015415:Biomarkers; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A