Serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Angiopoietin-2 Are Associated with the Severity of Systemic Inflammation Rather than the Presence of Hemoptysis in Patients with Inflammatory Lung Disease

PURPOSE: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) are major mediators of angiogenesis and are induced by tissue inflammation and hypoxia. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether serum VEGF and Ang-2 are associated with the presence of hemoptysis and the extent of systemic inflammation in patients with inflammatory lung diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 52 patients with inflammatory lung disease between June 2008 and October 2009. RESULTS: The median values of VEGF and Ang-2 were 436 pg/mL and 2383 pg/mL, respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between serum Ang-2 and VEGF levels. VEGF levels were not significantly different according to the presence of hemoptysis. C-reactive protein (CRP) and Ang-2 level were significantly higher in patients without hemoptysis (n=26) than in those with hemoptysis (n=26; p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). CRP and arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) were significantly correlated with both serum VEGF (p=0.032 and p=0.016, respectively) and Ang-2 levels (p<0.001 and p=0.041, respectively), after adjusting for other factors. Age and the absence of hemoptysis were factors correlated with serum Ang-2 levels CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that serum VEGF and Ang-2 levels are associated with PaO2 and the severity of inflammation rather than the presence of hemoptysis in patients with inflammatory lung diseases. Thus, hemoptysis may not be mediated by increased serum levels of VEGF and Ang-2 in patients with inflammatory lung diseases, and further studies are required to determine the mechanisms of hemoptysis.

Serum levels of angiopoietin-2 and C-reactive protein in chronic myeloid leukaemia patients: relation to different phases of the disease

Serum levels of Angiopoietin-2 [Ang-2] and C-reactive protein [CRP] were measured in 50 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia [CML] [30 patients in chronic phase [group A] and 20 patients in advanced phase [group B]] and 15 healthy age and sex matched subjects as a control group, to investigate their relation to different phases of the disease. Serum levels of both Ang-2 and CRP were significantly higher [p <0.05] in patients group compared to controls, and in advanced stage compared to chronic phase. Furthermore a significant positive correlation was detected between Ang-2 and CRP in the whole patients group which could support the hypothesis that CRP might play a role in modulating angiogenesis. The present data suggest that both Ang-2 and CRP could play a role in the leukemic process. Understanding their roles may help in follow-up care and in designing new therapeutic strategies for CML. Furthermore the role of CRP in modulating angiogenesis should not be underestimated