Vascular endothelial growth factor in serum indicates cardiovascular risk in urology patients

• OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that a high serum concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a cytokine involved in prostate growth which is also upregulated in chronic ischemia, indicates an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and death in urology patients.MATERIAL AND METHODS: The serum VEGF concentration was measured in 219 males (mean age 72 years) who sought medical attention because of lower urinary tract symptoms. Data on cardiovascular events and survival were obtained from the hospital registry of Stockholm County and the Death Registry over a period of up to 10 years (mean 6.2 years).RESULTS: After adjusting for the effects of age and smoking, patients with a serum VEGF level in the upper 20% of the cohort (>500 pg/ml) had an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (hazard ratio 2.18; 95% CI 1.04-4.60), including acute myocardial infarction (3.36; 1.35-8.41) and stroke (3.98; 1.61-9.86). They also had an increased risk of death (1.74; 1.01-3.00). These differences from patients with a lower serum VEGF concentration (<300 pg/ml) were manifested 2-5 years after the blood sample was taken.CONCLUSION: An elevated VEGF level in peripheral blood was a risk factor for subsequent development of cardiovascular disease.

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