Serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels as a marker of skin thickening, digital ischemia, and interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis
Background: Vascular injury is the initial event in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc) and potent proangiogenic mediators such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are overexpressed in the skin and circulation of patients with SSc. The objective of this study was to determine the s...
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2018-01-01
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| Series: | Indian Journal of Rheumatology |
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| Online Access: | http://www.indianjrheumatol.com/article.asp?issn=0973-3698;year=2018;volume=13;issue=3;spage=182;epage=185;aulast=Saranya |
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| author | Chinnadurai Saranya Ramamoorthy Ramesh Mahendran Bhuvanesh Chilukuri Balaji Selvakumar Balameena Sankaralingam Rajeswari |
| author_facet | Chinnadurai Saranya Ramamoorthy Ramesh Mahendran Bhuvanesh Chilukuri Balaji Selvakumar Balameena Sankaralingam Rajeswari |
| author_sort | Chinnadurai Saranya |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Vascular injury is the initial event in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc) and potent proangiogenic mediators such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are overexpressed in the skin and circulation of patients with SSc. The objective of this study was to determine the serum levels of VEGF in patients with SSc and to correlate it with the severity of skin thickening, digital ischemia, and interstitial lung disease (ILD).
Methods: Serum VEGF levels were measured in 55 patients with SSC who fulfilled 2013 ACR/EULAR classification criteria for scleroderma and 30 healthy age- and gender-matched controls by ELISA. All patients underwent detailed clinical examination, baseline blood investigations, chest X-ray, electrocardiogram, and pulmonary function tests. Echocardiography and high-resolution computed tomography scan of lungs were done wherever necessary.
Results: Median serum VEGF in SSc patients was higher than in the controls (675 pg/ml [interquartile range (IQR): 395–920] vs. 180.5 pg/ml [IQR: 155–215], respectively; P = 0.00001). No statistically significant difference was observed between diffuse (662.5 pg/ml [IQR: 441.25–942.5]) and limited SSc (680 pg/ml [IQR: 325–850]) (P = 0.412). Serum VEGF levels correlated significantly with higher modified Rodnan skin scores (r = 0.7168) (P < 0.0001) and lower forced vital capacity (r = −0.6771) (P < 0.0001). Median VEGF levels were higher in patients with digital ischemia (digital pitted scars, digital ulcers, and gangrene) compared to those without ischemic changes (P = 0.001). Patients with ILD (n = 21) had significantly higher median VEGF levels when compared to those without ILD (n = 34) (870 pg/ml [IQR: 592.5–1000] vs. 467.5 pg/ml [IQR: 297.5–760]; P = 0.001). There was no significant difference in serum VEGF levels between early (650 pg/ml [IQR: 375–885]) and late stages (890 pg/ml [IQR: 530–1000]) of disease (P = 0.197).
Conclusion: Serum VEGF levels were elevated in SSc and they correlated with the severity of skin thickening, digital ischemia, and presence of ILD. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cd1a0cef32ca403e8b960046e9caad52 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0973-3698 0973-3701 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Indian Journal of Rheumatology |
| spelling | doaj-art-cd1a0cef32ca403e8b960046e9caad522025-02-03T11:05:40ZengSAGE PublishingIndian Journal of Rheumatology0973-36980973-37012018-01-0113318218510.4103/injr.injr_132_17Serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels as a marker of skin thickening, digital ischemia, and interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosisChinnadurai SaranyaRamamoorthy RameshMahendran BhuvaneshChilukuri BalajiSelvakumar BalameenaSankaralingam RajeswariBackground: Vascular injury is the initial event in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc) and potent proangiogenic mediators such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are overexpressed in the skin and circulation of patients with SSc. The objective of this study was to determine the serum levels of VEGF in patients with SSc and to correlate it with the severity of skin thickening, digital ischemia, and interstitial lung disease (ILD). Methods: Serum VEGF levels were measured in 55 patients with SSC who fulfilled 2013 ACR/EULAR classification criteria for scleroderma and 30 healthy age- and gender-matched controls by ELISA. All patients underwent detailed clinical examination, baseline blood investigations, chest X-ray, electrocardiogram, and pulmonary function tests. Echocardiography and high-resolution computed tomography scan of lungs were done wherever necessary. Results: Median serum VEGF in SSc patients was higher than in the controls (675 pg/ml [interquartile range (IQR): 395–920] vs. 180.5 pg/ml [IQR: 155–215], respectively; P = 0.00001). No statistically significant difference was observed between diffuse (662.5 pg/ml [IQR: 441.25–942.5]) and limited SSc (680 pg/ml [IQR: 325–850]) (P = 0.412). Serum VEGF levels correlated significantly with higher modified Rodnan skin scores (r = 0.7168) (P < 0.0001) and lower forced vital capacity (r = −0.6771) (P < 0.0001). Median VEGF levels were higher in patients with digital ischemia (digital pitted scars, digital ulcers, and gangrene) compared to those without ischemic changes (P = 0.001). Patients with ILD (n = 21) had significantly higher median VEGF levels when compared to those without ILD (n = 34) (870 pg/ml [IQR: 592.5–1000] vs. 467.5 pg/ml [IQR: 297.5–760]; P = 0.001). There was no significant difference in serum VEGF levels between early (650 pg/ml [IQR: 375–885]) and late stages (890 pg/ml [IQR: 530–1000]) of disease (P = 0.197). Conclusion: Serum VEGF levels were elevated in SSc and they correlated with the severity of skin thickening, digital ischemia, and presence of ILD.http://www.indianjrheumatol.com/article.asp?issn=0973-3698;year=2018;volume=13;issue=3;spage=182;epage=185;aulast=SaranyaDigital ischemiainterstitial lung diseasemodified Rodnan skin scoressystemic sclerosis |
| spellingShingle | Chinnadurai Saranya Ramamoorthy Ramesh Mahendran Bhuvanesh Chilukuri Balaji Selvakumar Balameena Sankaralingam Rajeswari Serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels as a marker of skin thickening, digital ischemia, and interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis Indian Journal of Rheumatology Digital ischemia interstitial lung disease modified Rodnan skin scores systemic sclerosis |
| title | Serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels as a marker of skin thickening, digital ischemia, and interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis |
| title_full | Serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels as a marker of skin thickening, digital ischemia, and interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis |
| title_fullStr | Serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels as a marker of skin thickening, digital ischemia, and interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels as a marker of skin thickening, digital ischemia, and interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis |
| title_short | Serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels as a marker of skin thickening, digital ischemia, and interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis |
| title_sort | serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels as a marker of skin thickening digital ischemia and interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis |
| topic | Digital ischemia interstitial lung disease modified Rodnan skin scores systemic sclerosis |
| url | http://www.indianjrheumatol.com/article.asp?issn=0973-3698;year=2018;volume=13;issue=3;spage=182;epage=185;aulast=Saranya |
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