scholarly journals Serum vascular endothelial growth factor is a biomolecular biomarker of severity of diabetic retinopathy

Author(s):  
Sukriti Ahuja ◽  
Sandeep Saxena ◽  
Levent Akduman ◽  
Carsten H. Meyer ◽  
Peter Kruzliak ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Elevated serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels are associated with diabetic retinopathy (DR). Serum VEGF levels correlate with vitreous levels. Neuroretinal changes occur even before the appearance of vascular signs in DR. Role of VEGF as a biomarker for DR has not been assessed. Serum VEGF as a biomarker for severity of DR, was evaluated for the first time. Methods Consecutive cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus [without DR, (no DR, n = 38); non-proliferative DR, (NPDR, n = 38); proliferative DR, (PDR, n = 40)] and healthy controls (n = 40) were included. Serum VEGF was measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Accuracy of VEGF as a biomarker for severity of retinopathy was measured using the area under the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve. Results Serum VEGF levels in controls, No DR, NPDR and PDR groups showed significant incremental trend from 138.96 ± 63.37 pg/ml (controls) to 457.18 ± 165.69 pg/ml (PDR) (F = 48.47; p < 0.001). Serum VEGF levels were observed to be significantly elevated even before DR had set in clinically. ROC for serum VEGF levels was significant in discriminating between the cases and the controls and had good accuracy in discerning between subjects with and without retinopathy. The area under curve (AUC ± SE) for discrimination was significant: (a) cases and controls (n = 156): AUC = 0.858 ± 0.029, p < 0.001; (b) DR (NPDR + PDR) and No DR (n = 116): AUC = 0.791 ± 0.044, p < 0.001; and (c) NPDR and PDR (n = 78): AUC = 0.761 ± 0.056, p < 0.001, with over 90% projected sensitivity and specificity at various cut off values. Conclusion Serum VEGF level is a simple, effective laboratory investigative test in predicting the onset of DR in eyes showing no evidence of DR and serves as a reliable biomolecular biomarker for severity of DR.

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Nakhleh E. Abu-Yaghi ◽  
Nafez M. Abu Tarboush ◽  
Ala M. Abojaradeh ◽  
Amal S. Al-Akily ◽  
Esra’a M. Abdo ◽  
...  

Aim. This study aims to measure serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in a sample of Jordanian patients and to determine their relationship with the different stages of diabetic retinopathy. It also explores the correlation between VEGF concentrations and different biochemical and demographic findings. Materials and Methods. A total of 167 adults participated in the study. Participants were divided into two main categories: patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) type 2 without diabetic retinopathy (DR) (N = 62) and patients with DM type 2 affected by DR (N = 105). DR patients were further subclassified into nonproliferative (N = 41) and proliferative (N = 64). Basic laboratory tests were measured to correlate with VEGF levels. Irisin, a hormone linked to diabetic retinopathy was also measured and correlated with VEGF. Results. Serum VEGF was found to positively correlate with the severity of diabetic retinopathy. The means of VEGF serum concentrations were 60 pg/mL for controls, 133 pg/mL for nonproliferative DR patients, and 229 pg/mL for proliferative DR patients. We found a significant positive correlation with glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and a significant negative correlation with high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, age, and irisin. Conclusion. In this cohort of Jordanian diabetics, serum VEGF concentrations strongly correlated with the presence and stages of diabetic retinopathy, suggesting it as an appropriate indicator for diabetic retinopathy early detection and management in this society. VEGF levels also significantly correlated with HbA1c, HDL, and irisin levels. Further studies are encouraged to explore these relationships in other ethnic groups and with different diabetic complications.


2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. e2013044 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sameh Samir Fahmey ◽  
Hassan Naguib ◽  
Sanna Abdelshafy ◽  
Rasha Alashry

Background: The β-Thalassemia syndromes are the most common hereditary chronic hemolytic anemia due to impaired globin chain synthesis.  Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays several roles in angiogenesis which is a crucial process in the pathogenesis of several inflammatory, autoimmune and malignant diseases .Endothelial damage and inflammation make a significant contribution to the pathophysiology of β-thalassemia. Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess serum VEGF level in children with beta-thalassemia major as a marker of angiogenesis. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 40 patients with thalassemia major and 10 healthy controls and assayed for VEGF by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: VEGF level was significantly higher in patients with β-Thalassemia major than healthy controls (p=0.001).In addition, VEGF level was higher in splenectomised thalassemic patients than non splenectomised ones (p=0.001) .However, there were a positive correlation between VEGF and chelation starting age (p=0.008) and a negative correlation between VEGF and frequency of blood transfusion (p=0.002). Conclusion: thalassemia patients, especially splenectomized, have elevated serum levels of VEGF. Early chelation and regular blood transfusion help to decrease serum VEGF and the risk of angiogenesis.  


2014 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-32
Author(s):  
Ireneusz Balicki ◽  
Aleksandra Sobczyńska-Rak

The objective of this study was to measure the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in dogs diagnosed with chronic superficial keratitis (CSK). The study was performed on 25 German shepherds (14 males and 11 females, aged between 3 and 11 years). The VEGF levels were determined in blood serum using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA; Quantikine Canine VEGF Immunoassay, R&D Systems). The test group of affected German shepherds was subdivided into two subgroups, based on the area of corneal neovascularisation. The first subgroup (9 patients) comprised dogs with neovascularisation observed in 1 to 2 quadrants of the right and left cornea, while the second subgroup (16 patients) comprised dogs with neovascularisation observed in 3 to 4 quadrants of the right and left cornea. The control group comprised 12 clinically healthy German shepherds (7 males and 5 females, aged between 3 and 9 years). The results were then statistically analysed by the Mann-Whitney test. The study indicated that the median serum VEGF concentration in healthy dogs was 14.9 pg/mL. The VEGF level observed in sick German shepherds was elevated (19.5 pg/mL) as compared to the values found in healthy dogs; however, a statistically significant increase in VEGF concentration, as compared to the values observed in healthy dogs, was only noted in the first subgroup, where the median VEGF concentration was 22.0 pg/mL. Elevated serum VEGF concentration was observed in German shepherds diagnosed with CSK. A statistically significant increase in VEGF levels was observed in dogs in the first stage of the disease, i.e. the early stage of neovascularisation.


2005 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 511-524 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Caldwell ◽  
Manuela Bartoli ◽  
M. Behzadian ◽  
Azza El-Remessy ◽  
Mohamed Al-Shabrawey ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Amr Ali El-Sehrawy ◽  
Enas M Elkhamisy ◽  
Amani E Badawi ◽  
Heba A Elshahawy ◽  
Eman Elsayed ◽  
...  

Background: Considering the vital role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the development of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in one hand and the frequent association between subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and DR on the other hand. Objective: The present study was proposed to explore the possible role of VEGF in the relation between SCH and DR, thus we investigated the relation between SCH and VEGF levels in patients with DR. Methods: Two hundred patients with DR were recruited in this study [100 patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and 100 patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR)]. Patients with DR were divided into 2 groups according to thyroid function: patients with SCH or those with euthyroidism. Patients were subjected to careful history taking, and underwent clinical and ophthalmological examination. Fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), TSH, FT4, FT3, VEGF and thyroid volume were assessed Results: Among all the studied patients, 21.5% (43/200) had SCH. DR patients with SCH had higher age, diabetes duration, HbA1c, HOMA-IR and VEGF than those with euthyroidism. The frequency of PDR in patients with SCH was 72.1% (31/43) and 43.9% (69/157) in those with euthyroidism, whereas the frequency of NPDR in patients with SCH was 27.9 (12/43) and 56.1% (88/157) in those with euthyroidism (P < 0.003). In multivariate analysis, PDR, HOMA-IR and VEGF levels were the significant predictor variables of SCH. Conclusions: Increased VEGF levels may be implicated in the relationship between SCH and DR.


Ophthalmology ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 115 (11) ◽  
pp. 1916-1922 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nozomu Matsunaga ◽  
Yuichi Chikaraishi ◽  
Hiroshi Izuta ◽  
Nahoko Ogata ◽  
Masamitsu Shimazawa ◽  
...  

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