Estimation of vascular endothelial growth factor in serum of ankylosing spondylitis patients and its relation to disease activity

ABSTRACT

Angiogenesis is involved in the inflammatory joint diseases such as Ankylosing spondylitis [AS]. Vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] plays a critical role in angiogenesis. Ankylosing spondylitis is characterized by sacroiliitis and enthesitis in which new blood vessels formation participates. The aim of this study was to estimate the serum VEGF in AS patients and its relation to disease activity. Sera were collected from 20 AS patients and 20 healthy controls of matched age and sex. Disease activity was assessed using both ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index [BASDAI] and laboratory markers of inflammations [ESR, CRP]. Serum VEGF levels were significantly higher in AS patient [28.785 +/- 18.712 pg/ml] compared to controls [11.785 +/- 7.0191 pg/ml]. In AS patients' serum VEGF levels were correlated with disease activity indices. These results suggest that VEGF and therefore angiogenesis my play a role in AS pathogenesis and may serve as a disease activity marker in AS