Serum concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor in collagen diseases

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an angiogenic cytokine which h as been reported to be important in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthriti s (RA). In this study, the serum level of VEGF was measured using enzyme-li nked immunosorbent assay in 17 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, 49 patients with polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM), 40 patients with sys temic sclerosis (SSc), 11 patients with RA and 20 control subjects, The VEG F level was 184 +/- 62 pg/mL (mean +/- SD) in the serum of normal individua ls, The mean VEGF levels in the patients with PM/DM or RA were significantl y higher than in the normal controls. In 21 of the 49 patients with PM/DM a nd nine of the 11 patients with RA, the serum VEGF level was considered to be elevated. In patients with SSc, those with diffuse cutaneous SSc showed elevated VEGF levels in comparison with normal controls. An elevated serum VEGF level was correlated with the frequency of lung fibrosis and reduced v ital capacity in the patients with SSc.