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[Changes of serum leptin and vascular endothelial growth factor in children with congenital heart disease]
Yuan-Hai Zhang1, Ru-Lian Xiang, Xing-Ti Hu
1Department of Pediatrics, Yuying Children's Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China. zyh265@yahoo.com.cn
Insights
Serum leptin (LEP) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are elevated in children with congenital heart disease (CHD). These factors are linked to disease severity and heart failure development in pediatric CHD patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Biomarkers in Congenital Heart Disease
- Vascular Biology
Context:
- Congenital heart disease (CHD) encompasses a range of structural abnormalities present at birth.
- Understanding the underlying pathophysiology of CHD is crucial for effective management and treatment.
- Biomarkers that reflect disease activity and progression are needed for pediatric cardiology.
Purpose:
- To investigate serum levels of leptin (LEP) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in children with CHD.
- To determine the association of LEP and VEGF with different types of CHD and heart failure.
- To explore the roles of LEP and VEGF in the pathobiology of pediatric CHD.
Summary:
- Children with congenital heart disease (CHD) exhibited significantly higher serum levels of leptin (LEP) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) compared to healthy controls.
- Elevated LEP and VEGF levels, along with an increased LEP/BMI ratio, were observed in both acyanotic and cyanotic CHD groups, particularly in those with heart failure.
- Serum LEP correlated positively with BMI in acyanotic CHD, while in cyanotic CHD, LEP correlated with VEGF and hemoglobin, and both VEGF and LEP negatively correlated with arterial oxygen saturation.
Impact:
- This study identifies LEP and VEGF as potential biomarkers for CHD severity and progression in children.
- Findings suggest that VEGF and LEP contribute to the pathophysiology of CHD and are associated with heart failure development in acyanotic CHD.
- These insights may pave the way for novel therapeutic strategies targeting VEGF and LEP pathways in pediatric cardiovascular diseases.
Objective:
To study the changes of serum leptin (LEP) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in children with congenital heart disease(CHD) and their roles in CHD.
Methods:
Forty-eight children with acyanotic CHD (ACHD group), 20 age-matched children with cyanotic CHD (CCHD group) and 20 healthy children (control group) were enrolled. The ACHD group was subdivided into two groups with (n=20) or without concurrent heart failure (n=28). Serum LEP, VEGF, total protein and albumin levels and body mass index (BMI) were measured.
Results:
Serum total protein and albumin levels were not apparently different in all CHD children from healthy controls, but there was a significant difference in the BMI between them (p<0.01). Serum LEP and VEGF levels and the ratio of LEP/BMI in all CHD children were significantly higher than those in healthy controls (p<0.01). Compared with the ACHD group without heart failure, the serum LEP and VEGF levels and the ratio of LEP/BMI in the CCHD and the ACHD with heart failure groups increased significantly (p<0.01). In the ACHD group, serum LEP level was positively correlated with BMI (p<0.01). In the CCHD group, there were positive correlations between serum LEP level and serum VEGF level (p<0.01) and between hemoglobin concentration and serum VEGF level (p<0.01). Arterial oxygen saturation was negatively correlated with serum VEGF (p<0.01) and LEP levels (p<0.01) in the CCHD group.
Conclusions:
Both VEGF and LEP play roles in the pathophisiological process of CHD. VEGF and LEP are associated with the development of heart failure in children with ACHD.
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