Vascular endothelial growth factor and pulmonary hypertension in children with beta thalassemia major
Journal Title: Jornal de Pediatria - Year 2019, Vol 95, Issue 5
Abstract
Objective The purpose of this study was to illustrate the association between vascular endothelial growth factor level and pulmonary artery hypertension in children with β-thalassemia major. Method This case–control study was conducted on 116 children with β-thalassemia major; 58 of them had pulmonary artery hypertension. They were compared to 58 healthy children who were age and sex-matched (control group). Serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and echocardiographic assessment were done for all children. Results Vascular endothelial growth factor serum level was significantly higher in children with β-thalassemia major with pulmonary artery hypertension than in those without pulmonary artery hypertension, as well as in control groups (p<0.001). Vascular endothelial growth factor serum level had a significant positive correlation with pulmonary artery pressure and serum ferritin, as well as a significant negative correlation with the duration of chelation therapy. Logistic regression analysis revealed that elevated vascular endothelial growth factor (Odd Ratio=1.5; 95% Confidence Interval, 1.137–2.065; p=0.005) was an independent risk factor of pulmonary artery hypertension in such children. Vascular endothelial growth factor serum level at a cutoff point of >169pg/mL had 93.1% sensitivity and 93.1% specificity for the presence of pulmonary artery hypertension in children with β-thalassemia major. Conclusion Elevated vascular endothelial growth factor serum level is associated with pulmonary artery hypertension in children with β-thalassemia.
Authors and Affiliations
Usama Alkholy
Keywords
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- EP ID EP646114
- DOI 10.1016/j.jped.2018.05.003
- Views 92
- Downloads 0
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