Vascular endothellal growth factor in systemic lupus erythematosus and its correlation with disease activity and severity

systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune connective tissue disease that may affect any organ of the body and display a broad spectrum of clinical and immunological manifestations (Cervera et al., 2003).Kuryliszyn-Moskal et al., (2007) reported that VEGF serum levels were significalty increased in SLE subjects as compared to controlsThis study was performed to determine the serum level of VEGF in a random sample of SLE patients in comparison with healthy volunteers and to study its relation with disease activity and disease severity in these patients.The study was performed on 80 subjects who were divided into two groups; the SLE group and the control group. The SLE group included : 50 SLE patients who were chosen randomly and diagnosed according to the SLICC (systemic lupus international collaborating clinic) . Patients were further divided according to the SLEDAI score into an active group (n=36) and an inactive group (n=14). The control group included apparently 30 normal volunteers age and sex matched with the SLE patients.All patients were subjected to full history taking, complete clinical examination, disease activity assessment by the SLEDAI scores, assessment of disease severity and laboratory investigations including complete blood picture, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, complete urine analysis, protein in 24 hour urine, liver and kidney function tests, fasting blood sugar, ANA, Anti-dsDNA titre, complement 3, complement 4 and serum VEGF were done .