Plasma VEGF levels and their relation to right ventricular function in pulmonary hypertension

Abstract

A protective role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on right heart function has been reported only in animal studies of pulmonary hypertension. Twenty patients with idiopathic pulmonary hypertension and fifteen healthy volunteers were involved. Plasma VEGF levels were compared to right heart parameters. Plasma VEGF levels tended to be higher in patients (82/0–345/pg/ml) than in controls (48/0–141/pg/ml, p = 0.08) with a significant correlation between VEGF concentration and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE; p = 0.03, r = 0.48). This is the first study to report a positive association between elevated plasma VEGF levels and right heart function in humans.

• Pulmonary hypertension
• right ventricular function
• vascular endothelial growth factor

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Johanna Molnar and Monika Banlaky for assistance in sample collection and to Dr James Hull and Dr Sophia Lazar for English corrections.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

The study was supported by the Hungarian Scientific Research Fund (OTKA 68808) and Hungarian Respiratory Society research grant (to Andras Bikov).