Vascular endothelial growth factor in hypersensitivity pneumonitis and connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease

Abstract

Background A growing evidence on the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the pathogenesis of interstitial lung diseases accumulated over the past decade; with the development of nintedanib for the treatment of fibrotic interstitial lung diseases, our aim was to quantify serum levels of VEGF in patients’ hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) and connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung diseases (CTD-ILD) with an assessment of its relationship with functional status parameters and echocardiographic findings. Methods Spirometry, 6-min walking test, echocardiography, and serum VEGF levels were assessed in HP and CTD-ILD patients. Results The study included 31 HP patients, 30 CTD-ILD patients, and 29 control subjects. VEGF level was significantly higher in HP patients than in patients with CTD-ILD and control subjects. VEGF level showed positive correlation with 6-min walk distance and forced vital capacity percent predicted and inverse correlation with percent desaturation in 6-min walk test, dyspnea score, and echocardiographic findings in both groups. Conclusion Serum VEGF is higher in HP patients than in patients with CTD-ILD and control.