Elevated level of circulating VEGF in Chinese patients with hereditary angioedema and its correlation with disease status.

BACKGROUND

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare inherited disease characterized by recurrent, potentially life-threatening angioedema. The vascular endothelium dysfunction is reported to play a role in angioedema episodes. Here, we conducted a case-control study to explore the correlation between vascular endothelium growth factor (VEGF), a representative indicator for endothelium dysfunction, and HAE as well as its attack frequency, disease control and disease severity.

METHODS

Patients with HAE and non-hereditary angioedema in their attack-free period were prospectively recruited. Demographic and disease information were collected through questionnaires. Disease control of HAE was assessed with the angioedema control test (AECT) with a recall period of three months. The current severity of HAE was comprehensively assessed through frequency of angioedema episodes, occurrence of life-threatening angioedema, necessity for hospitalization or emergency department visits. The plasma VEGF level was measured by chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay. We compared clinical characteristics between HAE and non-hereditary angioedema patients, as well as among HAE patients with different attack frequency, disease control and disease severity. We further performed several generalized linear models (GLMs) to examine the correlation between VEGF levels and the attack frequency, disease control and disease severity of HAE.

RESULTS

We enrolled 74 patients with HAE and 55 patients with non-hereditary angioedema. HAE patients exhibited higher VEGF levels in remission than controls (112 vs. 60 ng/ml, P < 0.001). VEGF levels further increased in HAE patients with more frequent angioedema attacks, poorer disease control and greater disease severity. Results of GLMs confirmed significant correlations between plasma VEGF concentrations and the attack frequency of angioedema, disease control status and disease severity of HAE.

CONCLUSION

Circulating VEGF level elevated in patients with HAE during attack-free periods, particularly among those with greater disease burden, suggesting the involvement of vascular endothelial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of HAE. VEGF may serve as a predictive biomarker for risk stratification and disease monitoring in HAE.