Increased plasma concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with atopic dermatitis and its relation to disease severity and platelet activation.
BACKGROUND
Overproduction of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in atopic dermatitis (AD) lesions has previously been observed. It is also known that platelet is an important source of VEGF and platelet factor 4 (PF-4), a potential marker of AD severity.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate concentrations of VEGF and its soluble receptors (sVEGF-R1 and sVEGF-R2) in the plasma of AD patients and to examine its possible correlation with disease severity and plasma concentrations of PF-4, a platelet activation marker.


METHODS
Plasma concentrations of VEGF and its receptors and levels of PF-4 were measured by an immunoenzymatic assay in 51 AD patients and in 35 healthy non-atopic controls. The severity of the disease was evaluated using the eczema area and severity index.


RESULTS
AD patients showed significantly increased VEGF and PF-4 plasma concentrations as compared with the controls. Plasma concentrations of sVEGF-R1 and sVEGF-R2 did not differ between the groups. There were no remarkable correlations between plasma VEGF concentration and disease severity or between VEGF and PF-4 concentration.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that plasma concentration of VEGF may be increased in patients suffering from AD. It seems that plasma VEGF concentration is not a useful marker of disease severity and, apart from platelets, other cells might also release the cytokine.
Department of Dermatology and Venerology in Bytom, Bytom, Poland.
E
E
Koczy-Baron
J
J
Jochem
A
A
Kasperska-Zajac
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015539:Platelet Activation; D010978:Platelet Factor 4 / Q000097:blood; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012882:Skin Tests; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000097:blood; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D010978:Platelet Factor 4; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2