Tuberc Respir Dis.  2002 Feb;52(2):137-144. 10.4046/trd.2002.52.2.137.

The Clinical Significance of Measurement of Serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Patients with Hemoptysis

• Lo DK
• Kim SJ
• Lee SY
• Kim YK
• Kim KH
• Moon HS
• Song JS
• Park SH

• KMID: 2050262
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2002.52.2.137

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Hemoptysis is an often alarming presenting symptom and VEGF is a major regulator of both normal and abnormal angiogenesis, including many inflammatory diseases. In this report the clinical significance of the serum VEGF level in patients with hemoptysis was investigated.
METHODS
Thirty-two patients with hemoptysis were evaluated. The estimated amount of hemoptysis, etiology and serum VEGF level was examined at admission and bronchial angiography was performed in 22 patients. In order to objectify the neovascularization status, one point for the presence of the A-V shunt, hypervascularity, vascular tortuosity was designated for a total of 0-3 points.
RESULTS
Mean quantity of hemoptysis was 172.4+/-270.4ml. The mean angiographic neovascularization score was 1.23+/-0.75. The serum VEGF level correlated with the quantity of hemoptysis(r=0.524, p=0.002) and with the angiographic neovascularization score(r=0.441, p=0.04). Using the standard diagnostic criterion for massive hemoptysis, the serum VEGF level of patients with massive hemoptysis(642.4+/-545.6 pg/ml, n=13) was found to be higher than that of patients with non-massive hemoptysis(394.6+/-225.8 pg/ml, n=19)(p=0.069).
CONCLUSION
Regardless of the etiology, the serum VEGF may contribute to abnormal neovascularization in patients with hemoptysis. Therefore, it is suggested that serum VEGF measurements may help in predicting a massive hemoptysis.

Keyword

Hemoptysis; VEGF; Bronchial angiography

MeSH Terms

Angiography
Hemoptysis*
Humans
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A