Abstract
Background: We determined the urinary levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in patients with reflux nephropathy to elucidate its clinical significance as a predictor of the development of renal damage. Patients and Methods: Seventy-two patients (47 boys and 25 girls) aged 10-18 years with reflux nephropathy were studied. Vesicoureteral reflux was resolved surgically in all cases at least 2 years before enrollment. Urinary VEGF, α1-microglobulin and albumin levels were determined using morning spot urine samples. Plasma VEGF, serum creatinine and β2-microglobulin levels were measured simultaneously. The severity of renal scarring and right and left kidney function were assessed by 99mTc dimercaptosuccinic acid renal scan. Results: No significant correlation was found between the plasma and urinary VEGF levels. Urinary VEGF increased significantly with the increase in severity of renal scarring (p < 0.0001). Urinary VEGF levels correlated significantly with serum β2-microglobulin (p < 0.002) and urinary α1- microglobulin (p < 0.03). No significant correlation of urinary VEGF levels with serum creatinine and urinary albumin levels was found. Nearly 60% of the patients with elevated urinary VEGF had normal levels of serum β2-microglobulin and/or urinary α1- miocroglobulin. Conclusions: Urinary VEGF level appears to reflect its production in the kidney. Since urinary VEGF shows a propensity to elevate before the increase in serum β2-microglobulin and/or urinary α1-microglobulin, urinary VEGF may serve as an early indicator of the development of reflux nephropathy.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | c73-c78 |
Journal | Nephron - Clinical Practice |
Volume | 98 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2004 |
Keywords
- Albumin
- Kidney
- Reflux nephropathy
- Vascular endothelial growth factor
- Vesicoureteral reflux
- α-Microglobulin
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Nephrology