title: Clinical significance of plasma VEGF value in ischemic stroke - research for biomarkers in ischemic stroke (REBIOS) study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a well-known molecule mediating neuronal survival and angiogenesis. However, its clinical significance in ischemic stroke is still controversial. The goal of this study was to examine the temporal profile of plasma VEGF value and its clinical significance in ischemic stroke with taking its subtypes into consideration.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively enrolled 171 patients with ischemic stroke and age- and gender-matched healthy subjects. The stroke patients were divided into 4 subtypes: atherothrombotic infarction (ATBI, n = 34), lacunar infarction (LAC, n = 45), cardioembolic infarction (CE, n = 49) and other types (OT, n = 43). Plasma VEGF values were measured as a part of multiplex immunoassay (Human MAP v1.6) and we obtained clinical information at 5 time points (days 0, 3, 7, 14 and 90) after the stroke onset.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma VEGF values were significantly higher in all stroke subtypes but OT than those in the controls throughout 90 days after stroke onset. There was no significant difference in the average VEGF values among ATBI, LAC, and CE. VEGF values were positively associated with neurological severity in CE patients, while a negative association was found in ATBI patients. After adjustment for possible confounding factors, plasma VEGF value was an independent predictor of poor functional outcome in CE patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although plasma VEGF value increases immediately after the stroke onset equally in all stroke subtypes, its significance in functional outcome may be different among the stroke subtypes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan. rymatsuo@intmed2.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Ryu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Matsuo
authors.forename: Tetsuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ago
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamouchi
authors.forename: Junya
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kuroda
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuwashiro
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hata
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sugimori
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gotoh
authors.forename: Noriko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Makihara
authors.forename: Masayo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukuhara
authors.forename: Hideto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Awano
authors.forename: Tetsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Isomura
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yasaka
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kiyohara
authors.forename: Takanari
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kitazono
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A