title: Vascular endothelial growth factor and activin-a serum levels following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
abstract: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is frequently complicated by syndromes characterized by a disruption of the endothelial integrity such as graft-versus-host disease or liver toxicity. Vascular endothelial growth factor and activin-A, a member of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) superfamily, are important for endothelial integrity and tissue repair. We retrospectively measured endogenous vascular endothelial growth factor and activin-A serum levels in 70 patients following allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Vascular endothelial growth factor serum levels were significantly decreased within the first 2 weeks after the transplant and returned to pre transplant levels by day +15. Activin-A serum levels were significantly elevated from day +7 with peak levels reached on day +10. By using the median value as cutoff high vascular endothelial growth factor levels on day +15 were associated with significantly better overall survival, less liver toxicity, faster neutrophil recovery, and a trend towards less severe acute graft-versus-host disease. No correlation was found between activin-A serum levels and survival, liver toxicity, neutrophil recovery, or graft-versus-host disease. Monitoring of vascular endothelial growth factor levels following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation might help to identify patients with a very high risk for early transplant-related complications.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology and Oncology, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstrasse 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria. david.nachbaur@i-med.ac.at
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nachbaur
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schumacher
authors.forename: Jutta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Auberger
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Clausen
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kircher
mesh_terms: D028341:Activins / Q000097:blood*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000097:blood; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000166:cytology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C422405:activin A; D028341:Activins