VEGF levels in asthmatic airways do not correlate with plasma extravasation

Background Vascular permeability/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a multifunctional cytokine which plays a role in chronic inflammation an d angiogenesis. Its expression in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) has not been determined although VEGF may be relevant to the pathophysiology of asthma in which oedema is an important feature. Methods We studied VEGF, albumin and IgA immunoreactive levels in the BAL f luids obtained from 27 chronic stable asthmatics, nine untreated chronic br onchitis patients and 15 control subjects. Results BAL fluid levels of VEGF and VEGF normalized to IgA were not signif icantly different in any patient group. Both asthmatic steroid- and non-ste roid-treated groups had significantly lower albumin levels in their BAL flu ids explaining most of the 179% increased VEGF normalized to albumin ratios in non-steroid treated asthmatics. Moreover, VEGF and albumin markers corr elated in control subjects (r=0.73, P=0.006) and in chronic bronchitics (r= 0.75, P=0.03, Spearman test), but not in asthmatics. VEGF was inversely cor related with asthma severity (GINA/NHLBI scores) in non-steroid treated ast hmatics (tau = -0.52, P = 0.009, Kendall test). Conclusions Thus, the potential role of VEGF in asthma requires further stu dies on bronchial biopsies and induced sputum.