ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate correlations between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) which is associated with tissue remodeling and bone repair and systemic and tissue inflammation in osteoarthritis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients who were above grade 2 in Kellgren-Lawrence radiologic classification of osteoarthritis were classified into group 1 (grade 2, 16 patients), group 2 (grade 3, 18 patients) and group 3 (grade 4, 26 patients). All patients were checked C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and total WBC count in the blood and VEGF and total WBC count in the synovial fluid by ELISA. RESULTS: The severe in osteoarthritic change in radiographs, the more VEGF in the synovial fluid (mean value; group 1 82.7 pg/ml, group 2 111.6 pg/ml, group 3 152.6 pg/ml). VEGF in the synovial fluid were related with total WBC count in the blood and in the synovial fluid (p=0.012, p=0.028 respectively), but not related with CRP and ESR in the blood. CONCLUSION: The severe in osteoarthritic change in radiographs, the more VEGF in the synovial fluid. This facts suggested that there were much neovascularization and bone repair in the synovium of advanced osteoarthritis. Therefore further study elucidating mechanisms of tissue remodeling and its associated factors will be needed.