Role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in diagnosis of pleural effusion of different origins

Background: The undiagnosed pleural effusions are an important clinical problem so scientists spent much effort and time in searching for a new parameter to help in the diagnosis of pleural effusions. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) helps in differentiation between malignant and inflammato...

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Main Authors: M. Fathy, M. Al Ansary, M. Zakaria, H. Abdel-Hafiz, M. Said
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2014-07-01
Series:Egyptian Journal of Chest Disease and Tuberculosis
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0422763814000557
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author M. Fathy
M. Al Ansary
M. Zakaria
H. Abdel-Hafiz
M. Said
author_facet M. Fathy
M. Al Ansary
M. Zakaria
H. Abdel-Hafiz
M. Said
author_sort M. Fathy
collection DOAJ
description Background: The undiagnosed pleural effusions are an important clinical problem so scientists spent much effort and time in searching for a new parameter to help in the diagnosis of pleural effusions. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) helps in differentiation between malignant and inflammatory pleural effusions and might play an important role in tumor progression and the formation of malignant effusions. Aim of the work: To determine the level of pleural fluid VEGF in order to evaluate its value as a marker for differentiation between different types of pleural effusions. Subjects and methods: The present study was conducted on 73 patients with pleural effusion, admitted to Kasr Elaini Hospital (Chest Department) during the period from August 2011 to October 2012, after having their written consent. All patients were subjected basically to full history taking, thorough clinical examination, routine laboratory investigations, plain chest radiography thoracentesis. Medical thoracoscopy was carried out for cases with undiagnosed exudative pleural effusion (n = 46). Results: Pleural fluid VEGF, and pleural fluid VEGF/serum VEGF ratio both are highest in malignant pleural effusion with statistically high significance (p < 0.001), followed by infectious effusion then tuberculous one. Using ROC curve analysis, the cut-off used for VEGF in pleural fluid in discriminating malignant from other groups is 1800 pg/ml with sensitivity of 95% and specificity of 96%. Conclusion: VEGF is highest in malignant pleural effusion. The differential diagnosis of effusions might be further improved by including vascular endothelial growth factor concentrations into the diagnostic armentarium available to the clinician.
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spelling doaj.art-bdb3ab0c8e06426481ed8c7bcdd11cd92022-12-21T23:52:54ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsEgyptian Journal of Chest Disease and Tuberculosis0422-76382014-07-0163361161510.1016/j.ejcdt.2014.02.008Role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in diagnosis of pleural effusion of different originsM. Fathy0M. Al Ansary1M. Zakaria2H. Abdel-Hafiz3M. Said4Department of Chest Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, EgyptDepartment of Clinical and Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, EgyptDepartment of Chest Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, EgyptDepartment of Chest Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, EgyptDepartment of Chest Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, EgyptBackground: The undiagnosed pleural effusions are an important clinical problem so scientists spent much effort and time in searching for a new parameter to help in the diagnosis of pleural effusions. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) helps in differentiation between malignant and inflammatory pleural effusions and might play an important role in tumor progression and the formation of malignant effusions. Aim of the work: To determine the level of pleural fluid VEGF in order to evaluate its value as a marker for differentiation between different types of pleural effusions. Subjects and methods: The present study was conducted on 73 patients with pleural effusion, admitted to Kasr Elaini Hospital (Chest Department) during the period from August 2011 to October 2012, after having their written consent. All patients were subjected basically to full history taking, thorough clinical examination, routine laboratory investigations, plain chest radiography thoracentesis. Medical thoracoscopy was carried out for cases with undiagnosed exudative pleural effusion (n = 46). Results: Pleural fluid VEGF, and pleural fluid VEGF/serum VEGF ratio both are highest in malignant pleural effusion with statistically high significance (p < 0.001), followed by infectious effusion then tuberculous one. Using ROC curve analysis, the cut-off used for VEGF in pleural fluid in discriminating malignant from other groups is 1800 pg/ml with sensitivity of 95% and specificity of 96%. Conclusion: VEGF is highest in malignant pleural effusion. The differential diagnosis of effusions might be further improved by including vascular endothelial growth factor concentrations into the diagnostic armentarium available to the clinician.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0422763814000557Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)Pleural effusion
spellingShingle M. Fathy
M. Al Ansary
M. Zakaria
H. Abdel-Hafiz
M. Said
Role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in diagnosis of pleural effusion of different origins
Egyptian Journal of Chest Disease and Tuberculosis
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)
Pleural effusion
title Role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in diagnosis of pleural effusion of different origins
title_full Role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in diagnosis of pleural effusion of different origins
title_fullStr Role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in diagnosis of pleural effusion of different origins
title_full_unstemmed Role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in diagnosis of pleural effusion of different origins
title_short Role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in diagnosis of pleural effusion of different origins
title_sort role of vascular endothelial growth factor vegf in diagnosis of pleural effusion of different origins
topic Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)
Pleural effusion
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0422763814000557
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