Evaluation of Serum VEGF Levels in Untreated Erythrocytosis Patients

The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the involvement of angiogenesis in the etiopathogenesis of the different classes of erythrocytosis (polycythemia vera PV, idiopathic erythrocytosis and secondary erythrocytosis). The angiogenic activity was evaluated by the assessment of the serum VEGF levels in 78 untreated erythrocytosis patients and 21 healthy subjects. The results indicated that VEGF was overproduced in advanced and untreated PV patients and at less degree, in early PV, a subgroup of idiopathic erythrocytosis, thus confirming an increased angiogenic activity. However, VEGF does not play an angiogenic role in secondary erythrocytosis.