Delve Into The Clinical Significance Of Serum And Urinary VEGF Levels In Steroid-Sensitive Nephrotic Syndrome

Objective: To investigate the variation of serum and urinary vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in patients with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS) at their active and remission stage.Methods:Serum and morning urinary levels of VEGF were assayed by Liquichip in 18 patients with SSNS at the active and remission stage and 10 normal age- and sex- matched controls. Serum BUN, Cr and proteinuria were also measured in this study.Results:1. Serum levels of VEGF in patients at the active stage [(179.56±117.36) pg/ml] were significantly higher than that at the remission stage [(120.24±87.10) pg/ml] and than that in control group [(100.81±55.54) pg/ml] (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in the serum levels of VEGF between the patients at the remission stage and healthy controls (P<0.05). Morning urinary levels of VEGF in patients at the active stage [(200.79±115.91) pg/ml] were significantly higher than that at the remission stage [(123.26±65.26) pg/ml] and than that in control group [(97.45±47.64) pg/ml] (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in the morning urinary levels of VEGF between the patients at the remission stage and healthy controls (P<0.05).2. There was no statistical difference in the levels of serum and morning urine between simple nephrotic syndrome and nephritic nephrotic syndrome before treatment.3. Serum and morning urinary VEGF levels at the active stage did not correlate with BUN and Cr levels; but the levels of VEGF at the active stage correlated positively with proteinuria.4. Serum levels of VEGF had no significant correlation with morning urinary levels of VEGF, and urinary VEGF levels may be affected by many factors.Conclusions:1. Serum and morning urinary levels of VEGF were significantly elevated in patients with SSNS , however they were significantly lower after the treatment of steroid. There was no obvious difference between the patients at the remission stage and healthy controls.2. Serum and morning urinary VEGF levels at the active stage correlated positively with proteinuria, VEGF may be involved pathogenetically and physiologically in SSNS during its onset and growth.3. The levels of serum and morning urinary VEGF can not reflect the severity of renal lesions in primary nephritic syndrome , neither can they be taken as the prognostic indexes.