Assessment of vascular endothelial growth factor in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with anti-phospholipid syndrome

Abstract

Abstract Aim of the work: The aim of the present study was to assess the serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with and without antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Relation of the VEGF to the clinical characteristics and laboratory investigations were well thought out. Patients and methods: The study included 84 female SLE patients; 37 with APS and 47 without as well as 33 matched control. Disease activity was estimated using the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) and damage index evaluated. Serum VEGF level was quantified using ELISA. Results: The mean age of the SLE patients was 29.03\u202f±\u202f5.4\u202fyears with disease duration of 5.2\u202f±\u202f3.1\u202fyears. The VEGF was signficantly higher in the SLE patients (417.1\u202f±\u202f410.4\u202fpg/ml) compared to the control (76.5\u202f±\u202f33.01\u202fpg/ml) (p