A study of serum vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with congenital heart disease associated with pulmonary hypertension

Objective To investigate the relationship between development pulmonary hypertension and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF). Method Serum VEGF concentration was measured by using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. In 23 patients with pulmonary hypertension [mean pulmonary artery pressure was (38 70±10 82)?mm?Hg] and 28 patients without pulmonary hypertension [mean pulmonary artery pressure was (16 42±2 03)mm?Hg].Results Mean concentration of serum VEGF in patients with pulmonary hypertension was (291 70±197 66)?pg/ml, and (38 56±22 25)?pg/ml in patients without pulmonary hypertension. VEGF concentration and pulmonary artery pressure were positively correlated(r=0 714,4). Conclusion The serum VEGF concentration in patients with congenital heart disease associated with pulmonary hypertension is much higher than that in control group (P0 01). VEGF is probably involved in the pathophysiology of pulmonary hypertension.