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Vol. 41. Issue 7.
Pages 376-379 (July 2005)
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Vol. 41. Issue 7.
Pages 376-379 (July 2005)
Original Articles
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Benign and Malignant Pleural Effusions
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A. Kayaa,
Corresponding author
akaya@medicine.ankara.edu.tr

Correspondence: Dr. A. Kaya. Ankara Universitesi TIP Fakultesi. Gogus Hastalyklary. Dikimevi-Ankara. Turkey
, B. Poyraza, G. Celika, A. Ciledaga, B.E. Gulbaya, H. Savasb, I. Savasa
a Department of Chest Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
b Department of Biochemistry, Ankara Social Insurance State Hospital, Etlik, Ankara, Turkey
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Objective

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent inducer of capillary permeability and its role as a crucial mediator in pleural fluid formation has been established. This study was conducted to assess the usefulness of VEGF for diagnosing malignant and non-malignant pleural effusions of various causes.

Patients and methods

VEGF levels in pleural effusions collected from 52 patients (20 with malignant effusion, 12 with tuberculous effusion, 10 with transudative effusion, and 10 with parapneumonic effusion) were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

The median level of VEGF was significantly higher (P = .001) in exudative effusions (10.16 pg/mL) than in the transudative effusions (3.82 pg/mL). Although malignant pleural fluids tended to have higher median and mean levels of VEGF compared to tuberculous effusions, the difference was not statistically significant. Pleural VEGF levels in subtypes of lung cancer and in malignant effusions of different origins were not significantly different.

Conclusions

In conclusion, although VEGF levels in pleural effusions of different origins vary, they were only able to discriminate exudates from transudates significantly in this study. Further studies in larger groups of patients are needed to establish the role of VEGF in diagnosing malignant and/or tuberculous effusions.

Key Words:
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)
Pleural effusion
Lung cancer
Tuberculosis
Objetivo

El factor de crecimiento endotelial vascular (VEGF) es un potente inductor de la permeabilidad capilar y desempeña un papel clave como mediador en la formación del derrame pleural. Este estudio se ha realizado para evaluar la utilidad del VEGF en el diagnóstico de los derrames pleurales malignos y no malignos de diversas causas.

Pacientes y métodos

Mediante la tÉcnica de inmunoabsorción ligada a enzimas se determinaron las concentraciones de VEGF en los derrames pleurales correspondientes a 52 pacientes (20 con derrame pleural maligno, 12 con derrame de origen tuberculoso, 10 con derrame de tipo trasudado y 10 con derrame paraneumónico).

Resultados

La concentración media del VEGF fue signi-ficativamente mayor (p = 0,001) en los derrames pleurales (10,16 pg/ml) de tipo exudado que en los derrames de tipo trasudado (3,82 pg/ml). Aunque los derrames pleurales malignos mostraron una tendencia a las concentraciones medianas y medias mayores de VEGF, en comparación con los derrames de origen tuberculoso, la diferencia no fue estadísticamente significativa. Tampoco fueron significativamente diferentes las concentraciones pleurales de VEGF en los distintos subtipos de cáncer pulmonar, y tampoco en los derrames malignos de distintos orígenes.

Conclusiones

Aunque las concentraciones de VEGF son distintas en los derrames pleurales de orígenes diferentes, en nuestro estudio no han permitido discriminar los exudados de los trasudados. Son necesarios nuevos estudios de investigación sobre grupos más numerosos de pacientes con objeto de establecer el papel que puede desempeñar la concentración de VEGF en el diagnóstico de los derrames malignos, tuberculosos o ambos.

Palabras clave:
Factor de crecimiento endotelial vascular (VEGF)
Derrame pleural
Cáncer pulmonar
Tuberculosis
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Copyright © 2005. Sociedad Española de Neumología y Cirugía Torácica (SEPAR)
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