Clinical Research
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2003. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Dec 15, 2003; 9(12): 2832-2835
Published online Dec 15, 2003. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i12.2832
Spider angiomas in patients with liver cirrhosis: Role of vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor
Chung-Pin Li, Fa-Yauh Lee, Shinn-Jang Hwang, Rei-Hwa Lu, Wei-Ping Lee, Yee Chao, Sung-Sang Wang, Full-Young Chang, Jacqueline Whang-Peng, Shou-Dong Lee
Chung-Pin Li, Fa-Yauh Lee, Shinn-Jang Hwang, Rei-Hwa Lu, Wei-Ping Lee, Sung-Sang Wang, Full-Young Chang, Shou-Dong Lee, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital and Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, China
Yee Chao, Cancer Center, Taipei Veterans General Hospital and National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, China
Jacqueline Whang-Peng, Cancer Research Division, National Health Research Institutes and Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Chung-Pin Li, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, No. 201, Sec. 2, Shih-Pai Road, Taipei, 11217, Taiwan. cpli@vghtpe.gov.tw
Telephone: +886-2-28757308 Fax: +886-2-28739318
Received: August 23, 2003
Revised: September 14, 2003
Accepted: October 12, 2003
Published online: December 15, 2003
Abstract

AIM: To investigate whether vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblastic growth factor (bFGF) are associated with spider angiomas in patients with liver cirrhosis.

METHODS: Eighty-six patients with liver cirrhosis were enrolled and the number and size of the spider angiomas were recorded. Fifty-three healthy subjects were selected as controls. Plasma levels of VEGF and bFGF were measured in both the cirrhotics and the controls.

RESULTS: Plasma VEGF and bFGF were increased in cirrhotics compared with controls (122 ± 13 vs. 71 ± 11 pg/mL, P = 0.003 for VEGF; 5.1 ± 0.5 vs. 3.4 ± 0.5 pg/mL, P = 0.022 for bFGF). In cirrhotics, plasma VEGF and bFGF were also higher in patients with spider angiomas compared with patients without spider angiomas (185 ± 28 vs. 90 ± 10 pg/mL, P = 0.003 for VEGF; 6.8 ± 1.0 vs. 4.1 ± 0.5 pg/mL, P = 0.017 for bFGF). Multivariate logistic regression showed that young age and increased plasma levels of VEGF and bFGF were the most significant predictors for the presence of spider angiomas in cirrhotic patients (odds ratio [OR] = 6.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.02-21.79, P = 0.002; OR = 4.35, 95%CI = 1.35-14.01, P = 0.014; OR = 5.66, 95%CI = 1.72-18.63, P = 0.004, respectively).

CONCLUSION: Plasma VEGF and bFGF are elevated in patients with liver cirrhosis. Age as well as plasma levels of VEGF and bFGF are significant predictors for spider angiomas in cirrhotic patients.

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