High serum vascular endothelial growth factor correlates with disease activity of spondylarthropathies

Abstract

SUMMARY Angiogenesis is involved in chronic inflammatory joint diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a crucial role in angiogenesis. The spondylarthropathies (SpA) are characterized by enthesitis and synovitis, in which blood vessels participate. The objective of this study was to investigate serum VEGF levels and their potential associations with disease activity markers for SpA. Sera were collected from 105 patients with SpA (72 with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), four with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), six with reactive arthritis (ReA), eight with enteropathic arthropathy and 15 with undifferentiated SpA), 50 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 64 healthy controls. Disease activity in SpA patients was assessed using the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and laboratory parameters of inflammation [erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C‐reactive protein level (CRP)]. Serum VEGF levels were significantly higher in SpA patients (316·4 ± 215·6 pg/ml) and RA patients (405·2 ± 366·5) than in controls (217·3 ± 145·2) (P = 0·003). In SpA patients, serum VEGF levels correlated with disease activity indices (BASDAI: r = 0·22, P = 0·04; ESR: r = 0·3, P = 0·003; and CRP: r = 0·23, P = 0·02). Serum VEGF levels were not associated with presence of extra‐articular manifestations or syndesmophytes or with the grade of sacroiliitis. These results suggest that VEGF and therefore angiogenesis may play a role in SpA pathogenesis and may serve as a disease activity marker in SpAs.

Serum VEGF, EGF, basic FGF, and acidic FGF levels and their association with disease activity and extra‑articular symptoms in ankylosing spondylitis

“…2,3,6 Previous studies demonstrated a positive correlation between serum VEGF levels and disease activity indices such as BASDAI, ESR, and CRP in patients with spondyloarthritis. 3,4,6 Likewise, other investigators have demonstrated positive correlations between serum VEGF and CRP and BASDAI in AS.…”

“…1 The role of angiogenesis has not been clearly established in patients with AS. [2][3][4][5][6] Cytokines involved in angiogenesis include, among others, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF). 7 The source of VEGF in serum is unclear; it may be derived from platelets, inflamed synovial tissue, or other sources.…”

The Vegf and BMP-2 Levels in Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis and the Relationship to Treatment With Tumour Necrosis Factor Alpha Inhibitors

“…Increased serum level of VEGF was demonstrated in patients with AS (8) and correlated with the activity of the disease (BASDAI, C-reactive protein) (9). A predictive effect of the serum level of VEGF on radiographic progression was also recently demonstrated (10).…”

Cytokine profile in psoriatic arthritis: search for relationships with inflammation and blood rheological properties

“…Не исключено, что нарушение кровоснабжения в указанных областях, тканевые иммуно-воспалительные реакции и неоангиогенез взаимообуслов-лены. Однако сведения о взаимосвязи между повышением уровня перечисленных цитокинов в крови и клинико-ла-бораторными параметрами воспаления при ПсА, а также реологическими свойствами крови весьма ограничены [9,10]. С нашей точки зрения, полученные данные помогут понять некоторые аспекты патогенеза ПсА, в том числе и с позиции участия воспаления в формировании кардиова-скулярного риска (КВР) при данном заболевании.…”

“…У 105 больных с заболевания-ми из группы спондилоартритов (преимущественно с анкилозирующим спондилитом) найдена прямая корреляция между повышением уров-ня СЭФР в сыворотке крови и индексом активности BASDAI, а также CРБ и СОЭ [20].…”