Increased Serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Level in Churg-Strauss Syndrome

BackgroundChurg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) is a rare form of systemic vasculitis occurring in patients with asthma and hypereosinophilia. For optimal treatment, prompt distinction of CSS from asthma is necessary; however, there are few serologic screening markers for this purpose. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a vascular permeability factor, has been associated with other systemic vasculitis such as Wegener granulomatosis and giant-cell arteritis.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to clarify the clinical value of the measurement of serum VEGF for the distinction of CSS from asthma.MethodsWe investigated serum VEGF levels in 18 CSS patients, 19 asthma patients, and 12 acute bronchitis patients. We also performed immunohistochemical analysis for VEGF.ResultsThe serum VEGF levels of CSS patients were significantly higher than those of asthma patients and acute bronchitis patients. The sensitivity and specificity to distinguish CSS from asthma were 93.3% and 81.8%, respectively (cutoff, 600 pg/mL). Infiltrating eosinophils stained intensely positive for VEGF, and serum VEGF levels showed a significant correlation with peripheral eosinophil counts. Serum VEGF levels decreased significantly after therapy (p < 0.001). The infiltrating eosinophils in the CSS lesion stained positive for VEGF in the immunohistochemical analysis.ConclusionVEGF is one of the useful screening markers for the distinction of CSS from asthma. We suggest that VEGF might be associated with the pathogenesis of CSS.