SERUM LEVEL OF VEGF-D IN PATIENTS WITH PRIMARY LYMPHEDEMA
- AM Fink
- I Kaltenegger
- B Schneider
- J Fruhauf
- W Jurecka
- A Steiner
Abstract
Recent studies have indicated that vascular endothelial growth factor-D (VEGF-D) stimulates lymphangiogenesis in humans. Furthermore, mutations of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 (VEGFR-3) have been observed in families with hereditary lymphedema. The lack of stimulation of lymphangiogenesis could lead to production of even more VEGF-D to obtain stimulation of lymphangiogenesis resulting in a high serum level of VEGF-D.
The aim of the present study was to compare the serum level of VEGF-D in patients with primary lymphedema with healthy controls.
In a prospective study, the serum level of VEGF-D was determined by a solid phase ELISA in patients with primary lymphedema and compared with healthy controls.
In the group of patients with primary lymphedema the serum level of VEGF-D was significantly higher compared with controls (p=0.0047).
The increased levels of VEGF-D observed in the present study suggest that primary lymphedema may be based on defective stimulation of VEGFR-3.
How to Cite:
Fink, A., Kaltenegger, I., Schneider, B., Fruhauf, J., Jurecka, W. & Steiner, A., (2004) “SERUM LEVEL OF VEGF-D IN PATIENTS WITH PRIMARY LYMPHEDEMA”, Lymphology 37(4), 185-189.
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