EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR AND GASTRIN IN SCLERODERMA CREST SYNDROME/

Background: The objective of this study was to determine levels of epi dermal growth factor (EGF) and gastrin (GA) in saliva, serum, and urin e in scleroderma (Scl) and CREST syndrome. Methods: EGF and GA levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in saliva, serum and urine in 10 pat ients (51 years, median; range, 35-66 years); 9 females and 1 male wit h Scl, 3 females with CREST syndrome, and 18 age- and sex-matched cont rols, 17 females and 1 male free of any systemic inflammatory disease. Results: In serum, the EGF was lower in Scl/CREST than controls (p = 0.02), while GA serum concentrations were higher in Scl/CREST (p = 0.0 2). In urine, EGF in Scl/CREST was slightly lower than controls (p = N S) and GA concentrations were higher than controls (p = 0.03). In sali va, the EGF levels in Scl/CREST were also slightly lower than controls (p = NS), while GA concentrations in both Scl/CREST and controls were not different (p = NS). Conclusions: Low concentrations of EGF in ser um probably play a role in the pathogenesis of Scl/CREST, GA concentra tion can be increased as a consequence of the low levels of EGF becaus e of the structural homology of this peptide with urogastrone, a GA in hibitor factor.