Abstract
To examine the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), an endothelial cell specific growth factor, in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), serum concentration of VEGF was examined in patients with RA, osteoarthritis (OA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), systemic sclerosis (SS) and control subjects. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, white blood cell count and rheumatoid factor titer were also determined in patients with RA. The serum concentration of VEGF was significantly higher in patients with RA than in controls (p < 0.01), and patients with OA (p < 0.05), SLE (p < 0.05), and SS (p < 0.05). The serum concentration of VEGF correlated with serum levels of CRP (r = 0.698, p < 0.0001). The serum concentration of VEGF before treatment was significantly higher than that after treatment in patients with RA who experienced clinical remission (p < 0.05). Our data suggest that VEGF is involved in the pathogenesis of RA and that measurement of serum concentration of VEGF is a noninvasive, useful method for monitoring the disease activity of RA.
MeSH terms
-
Adolescent
-
Adult
-
Aged
-
Aged, 80 and over
-
Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
-
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use
-
Antirheumatic Agents / therapeutic use
-
Arthritis, Rheumatoid / blood*
-
Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy
-
Arthritis, Rheumatoid / physiopathology
-
Biomarkers / blood
-
C-Reactive Protein / analysis
-
Disease Progression
-
Endothelial Growth Factors / blood*
-
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
-
Female
-
Humans
-
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / blood
-
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / drug therapy
-
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / physiopathology
-
Lymphokines / blood*
-
Male
-
Middle Aged
-
Osteoarthritis / blood
-
Osteoarthritis / drug therapy
-
Osteoarthritis / physiopathology
-
Scleroderma, Systemic / blood
-
Scleroderma, Systemic / drug therapy
-
Scleroderma, Systemic / physiopathology
-
Steroids
-
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
-
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
Substances
-
Anti-Inflammatory Agents
-
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
-
Antirheumatic Agents
-
Biomarkers
-
Endothelial Growth Factors
-
Lymphokines
-
Steroids
-
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
-
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
-
C-Reactive Protein