Vascular endothelial growth factor levels in the serum and synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Objective To determine the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concen trations in serum and synovial fluid (SF) from patients with rheumatoid art hritis (RA) and to search for relationships between VEGF levels and clinica l and laboratory variables. Methods We measured VEGF levels using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Serum samples M ere obtained from 99 RA patients, 49 asteoarthritis (OA) p atients, and 80 normal controls. Paired samples of serum and SF were collec ted from 32 patients with RA and 15 with OA, Results The mean serum VEGF concentration was 590. 1 pg/ml for RA patients, 286.7 pg/ml for OA patients, and 265.8 pg/ml in controls. The serum VEGF c oncentration was significantly higher in the RA patients than in the OA pat ients or the controls (both p < 0.001). Furthermore, the VEGF levels in SF from RA patients were significantly higher than in SF from OA patients (p = 0.017). However there was no correlation between VEGF levels in serum and SF from the same RA patients. The serum VEGF concentration was correlated w ith the ESR, serum CRP concentration, serum rheumatoid factor, number of te nder and swollen joints, Modified Health Assessment Questionnaire, and pati ent and physician global assessments of disease activity in RA patients. Conclusion These results suggest that VEGF level is related to RA disease a ctivity suggesting that VEGF may play some role in the pathogenesis of RA.