Alternations of VEGF blood levels in pulmonary sarcoidosis

Background:

Little is known about potential predictive factors of pulmonary sarcoidosis progression. Therefore, the aim of our study was to assess blood markers such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) involved primarily in angiogenesis and fibrosis.

Methods:

In a total of 77 patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis in stages I-III with or without oral cortisone therapy blood levels of VEGF, PDGF and FGF were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Active sarcoidosis was defined as the increase in blood concentrations of sarcoidosis markers such as angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and/or soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2R) above the normal range. Cut-off value for a relevantly decreased lung diffusing capacity amounted to 65% of a predicted value.

Results:

VEGF was significantly increased in the following groups of patients: sarcoidosis in stages III (101.8 ± 13.2 vs. stages I+II: 73.7 ± 3.5pg/ml), sarcoidosis with oral cortisone therapy (89.3 ± 7.4 vs. without oral cortisone therapy: 71.1 ± 4.5pg/ml), active sarcoidosis (92.1 ± 8.2 vs. non-active sarcoidosis: 72.0 ± 4.0pg/ml) and sarcoidosis with a relevantly decreased lung diffusing capacity (96.6 ± 12.6 vs. no relevant reduction of lung diffusing capacity: 76.1 ± 4.1pg/ml). Levels of PDGF and FGF were similar between the compared groups.

Conclusions:

Advanced stages of pulmonary sarcoidosis, cortisone therapy, elevated sarcoidosis markers in blood and reduced lung diffusing capacity are associated with increased VEGF blood levels.