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Vascular endothelial growth factor level in chronic liver diseases
Madiha M Makhlouf1, Adel Awad, Madiha M Zakhari
1Department of Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, El-Minia University, Cairo, Egypt.
Insights
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) levels are significantly elevated in patients with chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). VEGF levels correlate with hepatic dysfunction severity in these liver disease patients.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Oncology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Liver diseases, including chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), represent a significant global health burden.
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is a key regulator of angiogenesis and vascular permeability, implicated in various pathological conditions.
- Understanding VEGF's role in liver disease progression is crucial for developing targeted therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and compare circulating Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) levels across different stages of liver disease: chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
- To explore the correlation between VEGF levels and clinical parameters, disease severity, and complications in patients with liver disease.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 90 individuals, including 20 healthy controls, 20 chronic hepatitis patients, 30 liver cirrhosis patients, and 20 HCC patients, were enrolled.
- Participants underwent clinical examinations, ultrasonography, complete blood counts, viral hepatitis serology, liver function tests, and ELISA for circulating VEGF.
- Patients with liver cirrhosis and HCC were staged using the Child-Pugh classification; upper endoscopy was performed on a subset of patients.
Main Results:
- Circulating VEGF levels were significantly higher in patients with chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and HCC compared to healthy controls.
- VEGF levels were notably higher in the HCC group compared to the liver cirrhosis group.
- A significant negative correlation was observed between VEGF levels and platelet count in the chronic hepatitis group.
- VEGF levels showed a significant correlation with the degree of hepatic dysfunction.
Conclusions:
- Elevated circulating VEGF is a consistent finding across progressive stages of liver disease, suggesting its involvement in pathogenesis.
- VEGF may serve as a potential biomarker for disease severity and progression in chronic liver conditions.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise role of VEGF in liver disease and its potential as a therapeutic target.
Abstract:
Ninety individuals (76 males and 14 females) were classified into four groups. G1 (Control) included 20 healthy individuals. G2 (Chronic hepatitis) included 20 patients, G3 (Liver cirrhosis group) included 30 patients, and G4 (HCC) included 20 patients with HCC. All groups were subjected to clinical examination, abdominal ultrasonography, complete blood picture, HCV antibodies, HBs Ag, and function tests (total and direct bilirubin, total plasma proteins and albumin, prothrombin time and concentration, and liver enzymes AST, ALT and ALP). Patients of G3 & 4 were classified according to Child-Pugh classification into A. B and C. Upper endoscopic examination was done for 36/50 patients with chronic hepatitis or HCC. Circulating VEGF levels were determined by ELISA. There was a statistically high significant levels of circulating VEGF in G1, 2 & 3 than in the controls. A statistically significant higher level of circulating VEGF in G4 than in G3 & G4, and a statistically negative significant between VEGF levels and platelet count in G2. No significant correlation between VEGF and the grade of esophageal varices in G3 & G4. and no significant correlation between VEGF and upper GIT bleeding or spider naevi (vascular skin changes) in G2. A statistically significant was in correlation between VEGF and degree of hepatic dysfunction.