title: Analysis of vascular endothelial growth factor gene expression in the tissues of patients with chronic venous insufficiency.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Immunohistochemical techniques have revealed the presence of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the epidermis of patients with chronic venous disease (CVD). Our objective was to perform a quantitative analysis of the VEGF gene transcription in tissues that are potential sources of this factor (skin, varicose veins [VV] and great saphenous vein [GSV]) in patients with CVD.
  
  
  METHODS
  In all, 212 skin and venous tissue samples were collected from patients diagnosed with CVD and controls. The VEGF gene expression was analysed using quantitative realtime polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The skin VEGF expression was lower in the CVD group than in the control group (P = 0.04). There were no significant differences between the insufficient GSV of the CVD group and the control healthy vein (P = 0.22). There was a greater expression of VEGF in the VV of the CVD group than in the control healthy vein (P = 0.03). Comparison of the VEGF expression between the different tissue types in the CVD group revealed significant differences between the skin and GSV (P = 0.02) and between the skin and the VV (P = 0.004), and between the VV and the GSV (P = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study show an over-expression of VEGF gene in the VV tissue of patients with CVD. Based on the data in patients with C2 disease, the VVs appear to be the source of increased VEGF expression.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Surgery and Angiology Department, Hospital Central de la Cruz Roja, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Flórez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: De Haro
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bleda
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Varela
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Esparza
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Acin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics*; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A