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Comparative Study
. 2002 Jan 15;73(1):153-6.
doi: 10.1097/00007890-200201150-00030.

Serum vascular endothelial growth factor as a surveillance marker for cellular rejection in pediatric cardiac transplantation

Lisa P Abramson  1 , Elfriede Pahl, Lijun Huang, Veronica Stellmach, Sherrie Rodgers, Constantine Mavroudis, Carl L Backer, Robert M Arensman, Susan E Crawford
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Serum vascular endothelial growth factor as a surveillance marker for cellular rejection in pediatric cardiac transplantation

Lisa P Abramson et al. Transplantation. .

Erratum in

  • Transplantation 2002 Jan 27;73(2):321

Abstract

Background: Early detection and treatment of acute rejection in cardiac transplant recipients significantly improves long-term survival. Endomyocardial biopsy is used routinely for diagnosing allograft rejection; however, in young children, this procedure carries some risk. We evaluated serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as a potential surveillance marker of acute cellular rejection.

Methods: Blood samples (n=62) were analyzed from 23 patients and compared with controls (n=18) using an ELISA for VEGF. Results were correlated with endomyocardial biopsy rejection grades.

Results: Mean baseline VEGF levels of the transplant population were consistently higher than controls. Serum VEGF levels were significantly higher during acute cellular rejection when compared with the non-rejecting transplant group (700.7+/-154 pg/ml vs. 190.5+/-29 pg/ml). VEGF decreased two- to eightfold after immunosuppressive therapy in 9 of 11 rejection episodes.

Conclusions: These data suggest that VEGF may play a role in the pathogenesis of acute allograft rejection and it may serve as a reliable serologic surveillance marker.

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