Objective: To measure pre- and postoperative plasma concentrations of growth factors (VEGF, PDGF, EGF, ANG1, and ANG2) in patients with primary lower limb varicose veins (VVs) treated with endovenous laser ablation (EVLA).
Background: Many studies have explored the potential relationship between primary VVs and growth factors. No previous studies were done for patients treated with EVLA.
Materials and methods: Blood samples were obtained from 30 patients with primary VVs undergoing treatment with EVLA before and 1 week after treatment. Similar samples were obtained from 20 healthy matched adults as a control. Plasma concentrations of growth factor derivatives (VEGF, PDGF, EGF, ANG1, and ANG2) were measured through commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results: There was statistically significant reduction in median plasma growth factor (VEGF, PDGF, EGF, and ANG1) levels in the preoperative group (p = 0.001) when compared with the control group except for ANG2, which showed increased plasma level (p = 0.001). However, values of plasma concentration of those growth factors after treatment with EVLA were nearly equal to the control group, especially in EGF and VEGF (p = 0.564, 0.515, respectively).
Conclusions: The altered plasma concentrations of growth factors VEGF, PDGF, EGF, ANG1, and ANG2 among patients with VVs normalized 1 week after treatment with EVLA compared with the control group. This may support the role of these factors in the pathogenesis of the disease. Future studies may evaluate if these changes can play a prognostic and/or predictive value regarding the adequacy of treatment and the possibility of recurrence.
Keywords: endovenous laser ablation; growth factors; varicose veins.