Circulating and exhaled vascular endothelial growth factor in asthmatic pregnancy.
BACKGROUND
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a role in asthma and pathological pregnancies.


OBJECTIVE
This is the first study assessing plasma and exhaled breath condensate VEGF levels in asthmatic pregnancy.


METHODS
Thirty-one asthmatic pregnant, 29 asthmatic nonpregnant, 28 healthy pregnant and 22 healthy nonpregnant women were enrolled. Plasma was collected in all subjects, EBC in 57 volunteers for VEGF measurements.


RESULTS
Plasma VEGF decreased in both pregnant groups (p < 0.01), without any differences between the asthmatic and the respective nonasthmatic groups (p > 0.05). VEGF was undetectable in EBC.


CONCLUSIONS
Concomitant asthma does not affect plasma VEGF during pregnancy.
Department of Pulmonology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Andras
A
Bikov
Aniko
A
Bohacs
Noemi
N
Eszes
Zsoka
Z
Weiszhar
Istvan
I
Ivancso
Veronika
V
Muller
Janos
J
Rigo
Gyorgy
G
Losonczy
Lilla
L
Tamasi
Ildiko
I
Horvath
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D001724:Birth Weight; D001944:Breath Tests; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D045853:Exhalation; D005260:Female; D005740:Gases / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D057230:Limit of Detection; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D005740:Gases; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C501162:FLT1 protein, human; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1