title: Angiopoietin-1 and -2 as markers for disease severity in hemolytic uremic syndrome induced by enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Angiopoietin (Ang)-1 and -2 play important roles in maintaining vascular homeostasis. This study aimed to assess the roles of angiopoietin (Ang)-1 and -2 and to investigate the clinical significance of their serum levels in patients with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) induced by enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty patients with HUS and 15 healthy controls were studied. Serum Ang-1 and Ang-2 levels were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results were compared with the clinical features of HUS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the HUS phase, serum Ang-1 levels were significantly decreased, whereas serum Ang-2 levels and the Ang-2/Ang-1 ratio were significantly elevated. Compared with patients without encephalopathy, serum Ang-2 levels and Ang-2/Ang-1 ratio were significantly elevated in patients with encephalopathy. Patients with HUS and serum Ang-2 levels of >7061 pg/mL or Ang2/Ang1 ratios of >2.29 were at high risk of encephalopathy. Serum Ang-1 levels were significantly decreased in patients in the pre-HUS phase compared with those in healthy controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Disruption of homeostasis of vascular endothelial function by Ang-1 and -2 may be closely associated with the development of HUS. Serum Ang-1 and -2 levels and the Ang-2/Ang-1 ratio may be promising indicators of disease activity in HUS and the development of encephalopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, 920-8641, Japan. shimizum@staff.kanazawa-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, 920-8641, Japan.
authors.forename: Natsumi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, 920-8641, Japan.
authors.forename: Mondo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuroda
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, 920-8641, Japan.
authors.forename: Mao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mizuta
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Naotoshi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sugimoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Toyama City Hospital, Toyama, Japan.
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaneda
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Kanazawa Medical Center, Kanazawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhide
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, 920-8641, Japan.
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yachie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D042683:Angiopoietin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D042702:Angiopoietin-2 / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D020806:Central Nervous System Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006463:Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C467630:ANGPT1 protein, human; C586513:ANGPT2 protein, human; D042683:Angiopoietin-1; D042702:Angiopoietin-2; D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators
keywords: Angiopoietin-1; Angiopoietin-2; Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli; Hemolytic uremic syndrome