HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:
Guest Access | Sign In via User Name/Password

This Article Full Text Free Full Text (PDF) Free Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Personal Article Archive Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (40) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Cheng, D.-s. Articles by Light, R. W. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Cheng, D.-s. Articles by Light, R. W.

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Pleural Fluid^*

^* From the Departments of Medicine (Drs. Cheng, Rodriquez, Light, and Mr. Rogers) and Radiology (Dr. Bienvenu), Saint Thomas Hospital, and the Department of Pediatrics (Drs. Perkett and Lappalainen), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN.

Correspondence to: Richard W. Light, MD, FCCP, Pulmonary Diseases, Saint Thomas Hospital, P.O. Box 380, 4220 Harding Rd, Nashville, TN 37205; e-mail: rlight{at}stthomas.org

Study objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship of the pleural fluid vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level with the diagnostic category and with the pleural fluid characteristics in a group of 70 patients.

Design: The VEGF levels of consecutive patients undergoing therapeutic thoracentesis were determined with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Setting: University-affiliated tertiary care center.

Results: The median level of pleural fluid VEGF in the patients with congestive heart failure (150 pg/mL) was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than the median level in the patients with coronary artery bypass grafting (357 pg/mL), which in turn was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than the median levels in the patients with malignancy (1,097 pg/mL). The overlap between groups, however, limits the diagnostic usefulness of pleural fluid VEGF levels. The VEGF level was most closely correlated with the lactate dehydrogenase level (r = 0.42, p < 0.001) and was also significantly correlated with the total pleural fluid protein level. The median VEGF levels in the pleural fluid of patients with breast cancer were significantly lower (p = 0.017) than in those with lung cancer. The VEGF level was very high (3,294 pg/mL) in the one patient with pulmonary embolism.

Conclusions: We conclude that the VEGF levels in pleural fluid differ significantly from one diagnostic category to another with the highest median levels occurring in patients with malignant pleural effusions. We speculate that VEGF may be responsible for the pleural fluid accumulation in at least some situations.

Key Words: malignant pleural effusion • parapneumonic effusion • pleural effusion • vascular endothelial growth factor

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Y. B. Guo, I. Kalomenidis, M. Hawthorne, K. S. Parman, K. B. Lane, and R. W. Light Pleurodesis Is Inhibited by Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Antibody Chest, September 1, 2005; 128(3): 1790 - 1797. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				U. Sack, M. Hoffmann, X. J. Zhao, K. S. Chan, D. S. C. Hui, H. Gosse, L. Engelmann, J. Schauer, F. Emmrich, and G. Hoheisel Vascular endothelial growth factor in pleural effusions of different origin Eur. Respir. J., April 1, 2005; 25(4): 600 - 604. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. M. Porcel and M. Vives Etiology and Pleural Fluid Characteristics of Large and Massive Effusions Chest, September 1, 2003; 124(3): 978 - 983. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D H Strong, J Y Westcott, J A Biller, J L Morrison, R M Effros, and J P Maloney Eosinophilic "empyema" associated with crack cocaine use Thorax, September 1, 2003; 58(9): 823 - 824. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H Arakawa, U Ikeda, Y Hojo, S Ueno, M Nonaka-Sarukawa, K Yamamoto, and K Shimada Decreased serum vascular endothelial growth factor concentrations in patients with congestive heart failure Heart, February 1, 2003; 89(2): 207 - 208. [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. van Hensbergen, H. J. Broxterman, R. Hanemaaijer, A. S. Jorna, N. A. van Lent, H. M. W. Verheul, H. M. Pinedo, and K. Hoekman Soluble Aminopeptidase N/CD13 in Malignant and Nonmalignant Effusions and Intratumoral Fluid Clin. Cancer Res., December 1, 2002; 8(12): 3747 - 3754. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Hata, K. Tanaka, T. Imaizumi, T. Ohara, T. Ohba, T. Shinada, and T. Takano Clinical Significance of Pleural Effusion in Acute Aortic Dissection Chest, March 1, 2002; 121(3): 825 - 830. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Cacciotti, L. Strizzi, G. Vianale, L. Iaccheri, R. Libener, C. Porta, M. Tognon, G. Gaudino, and L. Mutti The Presence of Simian-Virus 40 Sequences in Mesothelioma and Mesothelial Cells Is Associated with High Levels of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol., February 1, 2002; 26(2): 189 - 193. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. C. G. LEE, D. MELKERNEKER, P. J. THOMPSON, R. W. LIGHT, and K. B. LANE Transforming Growth Factor beta Induces Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Elaboration from Pleural Mesothelial Cells in Vivo and in Vitro Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., January 1, 2002; 165(1): 88 - 94. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Masood, J. Cai, T. Zheng, D. L. Smith, D. R. Hinton, and P. S. Gill Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an autocrine growth factor for VEGF receptor-positive human tumors Blood, September 15, 2001; 98(6): 1904 - 1913. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. C. G. Lee, J. T. Rogers, R. M. Rodriguez, K. D. Miller MD, and R. W. Light Adenosine Deaminase Levels in Nontuberculous Lymphocytic Pleural Effusions Chest, August 1, 2001; 120(2): 356 - 361. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. C. GARY LEE, L. R. TEIXEIRA, C. J. DEVIN, M. A. C. VAZ, F. S. VARGAS, P. J. THOMPSON, K. B. LANE, and R. W. LIGHT Transforming Growth Factor-{beta}2 Induces Pleurodesis Significantly Faster than Talc Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., March 1, 2001; 163(3): 640 - 644. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D.-s. Cheng, Y. C. G. Lee, J. T. Rogers, E. A. Perkett, J. P. Moyers, R. M. Rodriguez, and R. W. Light Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Level Correlates With Transforming Growth Factor-{beta} Isoform Levels in Pleural Effusions Chest, December 1, 2000; 118(6): 1747 - 1753. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G ANTUNES and E NEVILLE Management of malignant pleural effusions Thorax, December 1, 2000; 55(12): 981 - 983. [Full Text]

				H.M.W. Verheul, K. Hoekman, A.S. Jorna, E.F. Smit, and H.M. Pinedo Targeting Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Blockade: Ascites and Pleural Effusion Formation Oncologist, April 1, 2000; 5(90001): 45 - 50. [Abstract] [Full Text]