Serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and cavity formation inactive pulmonary tuberculosis

Background. In active pulmonary tuberculosis, certain cytokines have been p ostulated to be related to cavity formation, although the detailed mechanis m of cavity formation is not yet known. Objective: We examined the relation ship between cavity formation in pulmonary tuberculosis and vascular endoth elial growth factor (VEGF), which functions as an angiogenesis factor. Meth ods: Forty-eight patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis were divided i nto two groups according to cavity formation as evaluated by chest high-res olution computed tomography. We evaluated serum VEGF levels by enzyme immun oassay. Results: Group A (with cavities) was comprised of 22 patients and g roup B (without cavities) was comprised of 26 patients. The serum levels of VEGF were significantly higher in group B (58.733 +/- 21.612 pg/ml) than t hose in normal individuals (8.739 +/- 3.656 pg/ml) and in group A (13.053 /- 8.670 pg/ml) (Mann-Whitney U test, p = 0.0149 and p = 0.0481, respective ly). Serum levels of interleukin-8 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusion: These findings suggested that increased serum VEGF levels subdue cavity formation in acti ve pulmonary tuberculosis. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.