BASIC FIBROBLAST GROWTH-FACTOR ASSAY FOR DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF HEMANGIOMAS

Objectives. Hemangiomas of infancy follow a characteristic three-phase s course: proliferation, involution, regressed Proliferative endotheli al cells predominate during the proliferative phase. Moreover it has b een shown that patients with active angiogenesis have elevated levels of urinary bFGF (basic Fibroblast Growth Factor). Patients and methods . Here we report our preliminary results of urinary bFGF assay (ELISA) for the diagnosis and follow up of severe hemangioma. We also assayed bFGF in normal infants, in patients with large vascular malformations and in infants with Kasabach-Merritt syndrome. Result. In the control group, urinary bFGF was elevated in new borns but nul or very low in infants. Urinary bFGF levels were normal, ie. very low in 4 patients w ith a vascular malformation. In infants with a clinically proliferativ e hemangioma, urinary bFGF was elevated in 8 among the 10 studied, bFG F levels guided treatment in 9 patients. Urinary bFGF was elevated in 4 patients with Kasabach-Merritt syndrome. Discussion. Angiogenesis is regulated by angiogenic and inhibitory factors. The angiogenic factor bFGF is an autocrine growth factor for endothelial cells and hemangio ma endothelial cells expressing bFGF in their cytosol during the proli ferative phase. As suggested by J. Folkman and his group, assay of uri nary bFGF appears useful in differentiating between hemangioma and vas cular malformation and for follow up of treated patients.