Serum levels of basic fibroblastic growth factor (bFGF) in children with vascular anomalies: Another insight into endothelial growth.
OBJECTIVE
Dysregulation of angiogenesis has been proposed to play a central role in hemangioma pathogenesis. The aim of the study was to determine the peripheral and local serum levels of bFGF in patients with hemangiomas and vascular malformations (VM).


METHODS
The study group consisted of 52 children with infantile hemangioma, 14 with VM and 36 healthy patients. bFGF serum levels were analyzed by an ELISA assay. Urinary bFGF was determined in 11 individuals with hemangioma.


RESULTS
The serum peripheral bFGF concentrations in children with proliferating hemangiomas were lower than in healthy controls (p=0,03). There was no correlation between the measured cytokine level and hemangioma size, as well as patients' age. The serum local bFGF levels in 29 children with hemangiomas were higher than in the peripheral blood (p=0.022). Urinary bFGF in hemangioma patients did not differ statistically from healthy controls.


CONCLUSIONS
(1) Determination of bFGF serum levels is not helpful in differentiating the phases of hemangioma growth and distinguishing hemangiomas from VM; (2) serum levels of bFGF cannot distinguish between extrinsic and intrinsic theories of endothelial cell proliferation in hemangiomas.
Przewratil
Przemysław
P
Department of Pediatric Surgery and Oncology, University Hospital No 4, Medical University of Lodz, Sporna Str. 36/50, 91-738 Lodz, Poland. goral3@poczta.onet.pl
Sitkiewicz
Anna
A
Andrzejewska
Ewa
E
D000293:Adolescent; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine; D006392:Hemangioma, Cavernous / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D054079:Vascular Malformations / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine
D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2