title: Circulating vascular endothelial growth factor and its soluble receptors in patients with liver cirrhosis: possible association with hepatic function impairment.
abstract: Recent studies provided in vivo evidences of an increased angiogenesis in animal model of portal hypertension and cirrhosis which was linked to increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor. The aim of study was to evaluate the plasma concentration of VEGF and its receptors in liver cirrhosis and the possible association with the degree of liver insufficiency. Methods. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its soluble receptors: sVEGF-R1, sVEGF-R2 were measured in plasma of 78 patients with liver cirrhosis by ELISA. Results. The significant increase of plasma VEGF and sVEGF-R1 was observed in liver cirrhosis compared to healthy individuals (153.1+/-51.9 vs. 46.8+/-4.1pg/mL, P<0.05; 279.8+/-34.3 vs. 105.1+/-5.9pg/mL, P<0.001, respectively). Plasma VEGF and foremost sVEGF R1 showed significant associations with biochemical indices of liver function. Among clinical parameters, only ascites revealed significant association with plasma VEGR and sVEGF-R1. VEGF and sVEGF-R1 were increased respectively to the degree of liver insufficiency. It was demonstrated through a significant positive correlation with Child-Pugh score and MELD classification. In conclusion, our study suggests that serum VEGF and VEGF-R1 may reflect the hepatic function impairment in liver cirrhosis and seems to be associated with portal hypertension symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Medical University of Bialystok, Zurawia 14 Street, 15-540 Bialystok, Poland. jerzy.jr@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jaroszewicz
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Januszkiewicz
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Flisiak
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rogalska
authors.forename: Alicja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kalinowska
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wierzbicka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000097:blood*; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2