title: Association of serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels and cerebral microbleeds in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: The association between the presence of cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) and serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) was investigated.
  
  
  
  Consecutive AD patients who underwent magnetic resonance examination with susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) were prospectively examined. The presence of CMBs on SWI was independently interpreted. The number and location of microbleeds were assessed. Demographics including age, sex and risk factors were obtained. Serum VEGF levels were measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  
  Of the 146 AD patients included, 47 (32.2%) patients had CMBs on SWI. The CMBs were most commonly located in strictly lobar locations (29/47, 61.7%). The mean VEGF levels were higher in the patients with CMBs than in those without (336.72 ± 15.18 vs. 192.37 ± 11.34 pg/ml). Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that, for each 10 pg/ml increase of VEGF levels, there was a significant increase in the presence of CMBs after adjusting for age and sex, and after additional adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors, silent lacunar infarction and white matter hyperintensity in patients with AD (odds ratio 2.37; 95% confidence interval 1.53-4.02, P = 0.004).
  
  
  
  Serum VEGF levels are associated with the presence of CMBs in patients with AD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Weihai Municipal Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical College, Weihai, China.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Weihai Municipal Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical College, Weihai, China.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Weihai Municipal Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical College, Weihai, China.
authors.forename: H X
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Weihai Municipal Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical College, Weihai, China.
authors.forename: Z G
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Weihai Municipal Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical College, Weihai, China.
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Weihai Municipal Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical College, Weihai, China.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Weihai Municipal Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical College, Weihai, China.
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D059409:Stroke, Lacunar / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
keywords: Alzheimer's disease; cerebral microbleeds; serum; susceptibility-weighted imaging; vascular endothelial growth factor