Acute rise of circulating vascular endothelial growth factor-A in patients with coronary artery disease following cardiothoracic surgery

Aims Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) is an angiogenic and vasoprotective molecule whose expression is modulated by hypoxia and inflammatory mediators. Here we have tested the hypothesis that plasma levels of VEGF-A are influenced by pre-existing coronary artery disease and by changes in circulating interleukin-6 (IL-6). Methods and Results Plasma VEGF-A and IL-6 were measured prior to and at various time intervals following surgery in individuals with angiographically normal coronary arteries requiring cardiac valve replacement (N group) and in patients with coronary artery disease and stable angina undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CAD group). Baseline VEGF-A levels were not significantly different in CAD (22·3±2·6pg.ml−1) compared to the N group (14·9±2·9pg.ml−1). Following cardiac surgery there was a significant rise of VEGF-A in CAD (P