Bone marrow angiogenesis in patients presenting with differential Chinese medicine syndrome: Correlation with the clinico-pathological features of aplastic anemia

Objective To explore differences in bone marrow angiogenesis seen in aplastic anemia (AA) patients presenting with differential Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome, and to correlate these differences with clinical pathology. Methods Thirty-five patients were enrolled, including 18 with “yang deficiency syndrome” and 17 with “yin deficiency syndrome.” Bone marrow biopsies and serum were collected. Microvessel density (MVD) and positive expression of vascular endothelial-derived growth factor (VEGF) were detected by immunohistochemisty. Hypoxia inducible factor −1α (HIF-1α), and VEGF expression were assayed by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA), serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was tested by enzyme method and liquid chip technology was used to detected the expression of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, interferon (IFN)-γ and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Results Counts for leukocytes, absolute neutrophils and platelets in “yin deficiency syndrome” were lower than those found in “yang deficiency syndrome” ( P