[Change in serum basic fibroblast growth factor level and its relationship to pulmonary arterial pressure in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic cor pulmonale on plateau].

OBJECTIVE

To assess the role of serum basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in the development of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in the patients with chronic cor pulmonale on highland (HACCP).

METHODS

The levels of bFGF in serum of 38 patients with HACCP in the acute exacerbation stage, 30 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the remission stage and 30 normal control subjects were measured by sandwich enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA). The mean pulmonary arterial pressure (MPAP) was measured by echocardiography. The partial pressure of oxygen in artery blood (PaO(2)) was measured by blood gas analyzer.

RESULTS

The level of serum bFGF [(87.54+/-12.15) ng/L] and MPAP [(45.86+/-5.63)mm Hg (1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa)] in the patients with HACCP were significantly higher than those in the patients with COPD [(55.72+/-9.08) ng/L, (22.95+/-2.56)mm Hg, respectively, both P<0.01], those of the patients with COPD were both significantly higher than those of the normal control subjects [(49.83+/-8.78)ng/L, (20.34+/-2.23)mm Hg, respectively, both P<0.05]. The PaO(2) [(38.79+/-4.56)mm Hg] in the patients with HACCP was significantly lower than those in patients with COPD and normal subjects [(58.22+/-6.18) mmHg and (66.57+/-5.48)mm Hg, respectively, all P<0.01]. The level of serum bFGF in the patients with HACCP and the patients with COPD was positively correlated with MPAP (cor pulmonale group r=0.788, P<0.01; COPD group r=0.674, P<0.01)],negatively correlated with PaO(2) (cor pulmonale group r=-0.735, P<0.01; COPD group r=-0.587, P<0.01)).

CONCLUSION

The level of serum bFGF in patients with HACCP is significantly increased; it may play an important role in the process of sustained hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in patients with HACCP.