Correlation between synovial blood flow signals and serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels in patients with refractory rheumatoid arthritis.
The objective of the study is to examine the relationship between synovial blood flow signals and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) involved in angiogenesis by Doppler ultrasound. Twenty-one patients meeting the diagnostic criteria of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) were enrolled in this study. Doppler ultrasound signals of blood flow in the wrist synovial membrane were measured and classified into three grades: grade 1 = no flow; grade 2 = mild flow; grade 3 = intense flow. A significant correlation was observed between blood flow signals in the wrist synovial membrane and serum VEGF levels (r = 0.5681, P = 0.0072). These results suggest that the measurement of Doppler ultrasound signals of blood flow in the wrist synovial membrane is useful in the evaluation of angiogenesis.
Kurosaka
Daitaro
D
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Jikei University School of Medicine, 3-25-8 Nishi-Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan. d_kurosaka@jikei.ac.jp
Hirai
Kenichiro
K
Nishioka
Makiko
M
Miyamoto
Yukio
Y
Yoshida
Ken
K
Takahashi
Eigo
E
Ukichi
Taro
T
Noda
Kentaro
K
Yanagimachi
Maimi
M
Furuya
Kazuhiro
K
Fukuda
Kunihiko
K
Yamada
Akio
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002465:Cell Movement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A