This study aimed to determine the diagnostic relevance of
vascular endothelial growth factor (
VEGF) in the pleural fluid and serum of patients with
pleural effusions of different aetiology.
VEGF was quantified in the
pleural effusion fluid and serum of 96 patients with
malignancies (58
lung cancers (CA) and 38 tumours with secondaries to the lung (TM)), 45 with
congestive heart failure (CHF), 28 with
tuberculosis (TB), 45 with acute
infections (INF), and in the serum of 20 healthy controls.
VEGF pleural effusion concentrations were significantly different in the main diagnostic groups.
VEGF was higher in effusions of patients with
malignancies (CA as well as TM) in comparison with INF, TB or CHF. In serum, however, high
VEGF concentrations indicated CA, TM or INF, but not TB or CHF. Despite significant differences of
VEGF levels in different patient groups, receiver-operating characteristic analysis revealed insufficient diagnostic value of
VEGF for differential diagnosis of
pleural effusions. In conclusion,
vascular endothelial growth factor serum concentration is highly suggestive of the presence of
lung disease in general, except for
tuberculosis. In effusion fluid, the presence of
vascular endothelial growth factor clearly indicates inflammatory or malignant origin. However, for diagnostic use, additional parameters besides
vascular endothelial growth factor are mandatory.