The Role of VEGF-A in Young Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

The objective of the present study was to examine the correlation between acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) in young adult patients (aged 18 - 50 years).

In this single-center cross-sectional study, 44 young patients diagnosed with ACS were compared with 44 healthy controls with a similar age and gender distribution. Serum levels of VEGF-A were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in blood samples obtained at the time of presentation to the emergency department.

Out of the 44 patients included in the study with a diagnosis of ACS, 10 (22.7%) were diagnosed with unstable angina pectoris, 11 (25%) with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction, and 23 (52.2%) with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Out of the patients diagnosed with STEMI, 13 (29.5%) were classified as inferior STEMI, while 10 (22.7%) were categorized as anterior STEMI. No statistically significant differences were observed between the patient and control groups regarding age, gender, and comorbidities (p > 0.05 for each). The mean serum VEGF-A value of the patient group was 364.19 ± 151.51. The mean serum VEGF-A value of the control group was 538.41 ± 559.70. The serum value of the patient group for VEGF-A was lower than that of the control group, but this difference was statistically nonsignificant (p = 0.052). The creatinine and C-reactive protein (CRP) values of the patient group were found to be significantly higher than those of the control group (p = 0.022 and p = 0.010, respectively).

Serum levels of VEGF-A were found to be lower in young patients with ACS compared to the control group, although this difference was statistically nonsignificant. This finding implies a relationship between low levels of VEGF-A and an increased risk of ACS in young individuals.