Context: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a role in asthma and pathological pregnancies.
Objective: This is the first study assessing plasma and exhaled breath condensate VEGF levels in asthmatic pregnancy.
Material and methods: Thirty-one asthmatic pregnant, 29 asthmatic nonpregnant, 28 healthy pregnant and 22 healthy nonpregnant women were enrolled. Plasma was collected in all subjects, EBC in 57 volunteers for VEGF measurements.
Results: Plasma VEGF decreased in both pregnant groups (p < 0.01), without any differences between the asthmatic and the respective nonasthmatic groups (p > 0.05). VEGF was undetectable in EBC.
Conclusion: Concomitant asthma does not affect plasma VEGF during pregnancy.