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Serum hepatocyte growth factor levels in Henoch-Schönlein purpura
M Nishida1, H Kawakatsu, K Ishiwari
1Department of Pediatrics, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan. mnishida@ped.kpu-m.ac.jp
Background:
Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is the most common form of vasculitis in children. The potential role of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in acute immune-mediated vasculitis has not been elucidated.
Methods:
Serum HGF levels were determined in patients with HSP.
Results:
In patients with acute-phase HSP, mean (+/- SD) serum HGF levels were 0.32 +/- 0.14 ng/mL and were significantly higher than those in the control group (0.11 +/- 0.10 ng/mL). This elevation of serum HGF levels recovered to control levels in parallel with improvement of the clinical symptoms.
Conclusions:
It is suggested that elevation of serum HGF levels in patients with acute-phase HSP may reflect endothelial cell damage or dysfunction in HSP.