Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Vascular endothelial growth factor is a signaling protein created by cells performing important bodily functions. Vascular endothelial growth factor is abundant in the lung, and plasma levels are elevated in patients with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension. An association between soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor, an inflammatory biomarker, and soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor levels and interstitial pulmonary and vascular involvement (e.g., development of pulmonary hypertension) has been shown in SSc patients. The tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion/systolic pulmonary artery pressure ratio, which has been recommended as a useful diagnostic tool in the last guideline, is one of the additional echocardiographic signs suggestive of pulmonary hypertension. We aimed to examine whether these biomarkers contribute to the diagnosis and management of pulmonary hypertension. METHODS: Patients with group E chronic obstructive lung disease were included in this prospective study. Demographic data, echocardiographic signs about the right ventricle (right atrium area, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion/systolic pulmonary artery pressure, fractional area change, and right ventricular outflow tract), and peripheral blood analysis were examined and recorded. RESULTS: A total of 70 patients, 12 of whom were female, were analyzed in the study. The mean age was 66.6±8.7 years. The mean vascular endothelial growth factor-A and soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor were 91.05±70.7 and 955.8±571.1, and their Pearson correlation coefficients between vascular endothelial growth factor-A and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion/systolic pulmonary artery pressure, and soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion/systolic pulmonary artery pressure ratio were 0.341 (p=0.004) and -0.045 (p=0.70), respectively. The linear regression model included four variables with significant correlation (vascular endothelial growth factor-A, right atrium area, fractional area change, and right ventricular outflow tract). Three steps were performed, and adjusted r2 was 0.22, 0.22, 0.20, and p<0.001 for each step. Vascular endothelial growth factor-A and right ventricular outflow tract remained in the last step. It was detected a standardized coefficient beta of 0.322 (p=0.004) and a 95%CI 0.000-0.001 for vascular endothelial growth factor-A. CONCLUSION: Vascular endothelial growth factor-A is correlated with the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion/systolic pulmonary artery pressure ratio and not with soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor.