Elevated Levels of Serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Patients with Polycythaemia vera

Abstract

Angiogenesis seems to be a prominent event of myeloproliferative diseases. There are few reported data on angiogenesis and the significance of its stimulator, the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), in polycythaemia vera (PV). We report our observation of elevated serum VEGF levels in patients suffering from PV. Twenty patients with PV and 20 age-matched healthy subjects were enrolled. VEGF levels were measured by a quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay. Serum VEGF levels in PV were found to be very significantly higher than in healthy individuals (569.7 ± 101.2 vs. 164.7 ± 32.8 pg/ml, p = 0.001). We found no correlation between VEGF and haemoglobin, platelet or leucocyte counts in the patient group. Different therapeutic regimens had no influence on VEGF levels. However, in the control group, we observed a positive correlation between VEGF levels and platelet counts (r = 0.52, p = 0.02). Platelet counts did not differ between patients and healthy subjects. We also evaluated platelet-poor plasma VEGF levels in 10 patients and in all healthy individuals. We found very low levels of VEGF, approximately zero in most cases, in both groups and there was obviously no difference between the two groups. Our results indicate that VEGF is overproduced in PV. However, follow-up studies are needed to verify the role of this factor.

Serum Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Levels Are Related in Patients with Polycythaemia vera

“…Although we found very significantly increased serum VEGF levels [1] in the group of patients compared with the control group (569.7 B 101.2 and 164.7 B 32.8 pg/ ml, respectively, p = 0.001), we found no differences in serum bFGF concentrations between patients and controls (2.6 B 0.19 vs. 2.8 B 0.16 ng/ml, respectively, p = 0.65). In the patient group we found no correlation between serum bFGF levels and platelet count, Hb, WBC count, age and therapeutic regimen.…”

“…Following our previous report on elevated levels of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in patients with polycythaemia vera (PV) [1], we would like to publish new data on another angiogenic factor, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), in the same group of patients and healthy individuals.…”

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Nitric Oxide Serum Levels in Arterial Hypertension

“…As platelets play a crucial role in the consequences of arterial hypertension, VEGF stored in platelets and transported by them could not be neglected. Also, in a previous work (19), the authors found almost undetectable levels of VEGF in PPP-platelet poor plasma. This was a strong indication that platelet VEGF represents the majority of the circulated substance and must not be neglected.…”

Rapidly progressed aortic stenosis in a patient with previous diagnosis of polycythemia vera and post‐polycythemia vera myelofibrosis

“…Anemia might increase mechanical stress on the aortic valve via the persistent hyper-hemodynamic state that compensates for the inadequate circulatory volume, which could result in a calcified aortic valve [13]. Additionally, previous reports demonstrated that circulating inflammatory biomarkers such as, C-reactive protein (CRP) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were elevated in PV patients [14,15]. Considering the effect of chronic inflammation and VEGF on developing atherosclerosis [16,17], the hemodynamic mechanical stress accompanied by inflammation and angiogenesis could contribute to occurrence and progression of AS (Fig.…”