Faculty Collaboration Database

The utility of plasma vascular endothelial growth factor levels in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with POEMS syndrome. Blood 2011 Oct 27;118(17):4663-5

Date

09/02/2011

Pubmed ID

21881050

DOI

10.1182/blood-2011-06-362392

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-80055076037 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   175 Citations

Abstract

The POEMS syndrome is associated with elevated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels. Several studies have compared serum VEGF levels between POEMS patients and other disease entities showing higher serum VEGF in POEMS syndrome; however, it is unknown whether serum levels are reliable and reproducible given variable platelet release of VEGF. We therefore compared plasma levels of VEGF in 29 patients with POEMS syndrome with those of other disorders (n = 76). We demonstrated that plasma VEGF levels are useful in differentiating POEMS from other plasma cell dyscrasias, neuropathic processes, and multisystem illnesses. Plasma VEGF is also useful in monitoring disease activity after treatment and correlates with clinical improvements better than hematologic response.

Author List

D'Souza A, Hayman SR, Buadi F, Mauermann M, Lacy MQ, Gertz MA, Kyle RA, Kumar S, Greipp PR, Lust JA, Russell SJ, Zeldenrust S, Dingli D, Witzig TE, Rajkumar SV, Dispenzieri A

Author

Anita D'Souza MD Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Castleman Disease
Cohort Studies
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance
POEMS Syndrome
Polyneuropathies
Predictive Value of Tests
Remission Induction
Retrospective Studies
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A