The relationship between serum vascular endothelial growth factor (SVEGF) and beta thalassemia major

Background: Beta thalassemia is an inherited disorder characterized by absent or reduced amounts of betaglobin chains. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is a significant regulator of hemangioblastdifferentiation. This study was aimed to assess serum VEGF levels in patients with beta thalassemia major incomparison with control group.Methods: This historical cohort study was conducted on 36 patients with β–thalassemia major who had receivedregular blood transfusion and 26 healthy people which were referred for checkup in a general hospital, Sari,north of Iran, during March to May 2015.Demographic characterization and laboratory tests such as Complete Blood Count (CBC), and evaluation oflevels of serum ferritin, serum VEGF, hepatitis B virus antibody and hepatitis C virus antibody were carried outfor our patients. The statistical analyses were performed by SPSS (16) software. The Pearson correlationcoefficient test was used to test the significant correlations for quantitative parameters. A value of P<0.05 wasconsidered statistically significant.Results: Mean serum VEGF level in case and control groups was 153.8 ± 77.5 and 120.2± 45.4 pg/ml,respectively. Serum VEGF level was higher in beta thalassemia major (p= 0.037). Serum VEGF level wassignificantly higher in splenectomized patients (P=0.006).There was not any significant correlation between serum VEGF levels and Hemoglobin, WBC and plateletcount and neither was with serum ferritin level (p> 0.05).Conclusion: Serum VEGF level was higher in thalassemic patients. Splenectomized patients had higher serumVEGF levels than others.

The relationship between serum vascular endothelial growth factor (SVEGF) and beta thalassemia major Keywords:

Thalassemia major , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor , Angiogenesis , Splenectomy