Serum vascular endothelial growth factor and angiopoietin-2 are associated with the severity of systemic inflammation rather than the presence of hemoptysis in patients with inflammatory lung disease.
OBJECTIVE
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) are major mediators of angiogenesis and are induced by tissue inflammation and hypoxia. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether serum VEGF and Ang-2 are associated with the presence of hemoptysis and the extent of systemic inflammation in patients with inflammatory lung diseases.


METHODS
We prospectively enrolled 52 patients with inflammatory lung disease between June 2008 and October 2009.


RESULTS
The median values of VEGF and Ang-2 were 436 pg/mL and 2383 pg/mL, respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between serum Ang-2 and VEGF levels. VEGF levels were not significantly different according to the presence of hemoptysis. C-reactive protein (CRP) and Ang-2 level were significantly higher in patients without hemoptysis (n=26) than in those with hemoptysis (n=26; p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). CRP and arterial oxygen tension (PaO₂) were significantly correlated with both serum VEGF (p=0.032 and p=0.016, respectively) and Ang-2 levels (p<0.001 and p=0.041, respectively), after adjusting for other factors. Age and the absence of hemoptysis were factors correlated with serum Ang-2 levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggests that serum VEGF and Ang-2 levels are associated with PaO₂ and the severity of inflammation rather than the presence of hemoptysis in patients with inflammatory lung diseases. Thus, hemoptysis may not be mediated by increased serum levels of VEGF and Ang-2 in patients with inflammatory lung diseases, and further studies are required to determine the mechanisms of hemoptysis.
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 50 Irwon-Dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 135-710, Korea.
Hye Yun
HY
Park
Cho Rom
CR
Hahm
Kyeongman
K
Jeon
Won-Jung
WJ
Koh
Gee Young
GY
Suh
Man Pyo
MP
Chung
Hojoong
H
Kim
O Jung
OJ
Kwon
Sang-Won
SW
Um
D000368:Aged; D042702:Angiopoietin-2 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006469:Hemoptysis / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*
D042702:Angiopoietin-2; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A