title: The relationship between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and microalbuminuria in patients with essential hypertension.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The existence of microalbuminuria (MAU) in patients with essential hypertension is a strong indicator of microvascular damage. Although endothelial dysfunction and increased vascular permeability both have a role in the development of MAU, its ethiopathogenesis in hypertensive patients is not yet clearly understood. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the most important regulator of pathological or physiological angiogenesis and it additionally leads to increased vascular permeability. This study aims to assess the relationship of serum VEGF levels to MAU in non-complicated, newly-diagnosed essential hypertensive patients (EHs).
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 30 newly-diagnosed EHs with MAU, 46 newly-diagnosed EHs without MAU and 46 healthy controls. None of the EHs had diabetes, renal impairment or atherosclerotic diseases. Serum VEGF levels were measured using the ELISA method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum levels of VEGF were significantly higher in EHs with MAU when compared with patients without MAU (225.15+/-109.34 pg/mL versus 166.78+/-114.35 pg/mL, p: 0.04) or controls (225.15+/-109.34 pg/mL versus 144.91+/-96.60 pg/mL, p: 0.007). On the other hand, no significant difference was observed between the non-MAU and control groups. In the univariate analysis, serum levels of VEGF, were positively correlated with systolic blood pressure (R: 0.253 p: 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (R: 0.162 p: 0.04), mean arterial pressure (R: 0.239 p: 0.002), creatinine clearance (R: 0.172 p: 0.04) and MAU (R: 0.338 p: 0.002). In the multiple linear regression analysis, VEGF levels were independently related to MAU (beta: 0.248, p: 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VEGF levels are higher in EHs in the presence of MAU. These high values may be important in the early diagnosis of vascular damage in EHs. Additionally, VEGF may increase glomerular permeability and lead to MAU in EHs.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Nephrology, Gazi University. fayerdenebin@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ayerden Ebinç
authors.forename: Ebinç
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Haksun
authors.forename: Derici Boztepe
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Ulver
authors.forename: Eyüp
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koç
authors.forename: Yasemin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Erten
authors.forename: Kadriye
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Reis Altok
authors.forename: Musa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bali
authors.forename: Arinsoy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Turgay
authors.forename: Sükrü
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sindel