Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with systemic sclerosis spontaneously secrete increased amounts of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) already in the early stage of the disease

PBMC form SSc patients produce increased amounts of VEGF already in the early stage of disease. There is an imbalance in the profile of pro-angiogenic mediators produced by PBMC in SSc which might contribute to the pathogenesis of SSc. Further studies should address clinical significance of our findings.