Elevated Serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Children and Young Adults with Crohn's Disease

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is acytokine released by fibroblasts, epithelial cells, andleukocytes that potentiates vascular permeability andgrowth of new capillaries. Because of these multiple effects, VEGF has been postulated to play arole in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease, as wellas in wound healing. We hypothesized that VEGF waspotentially important in mediating the vascularpermeability and angiogenesis seen in Crohn's disease, andtherefore that VEGF would be increased in the serum ofchildren with Crohn's disease. Serum was obtained from73 children and young adults with Crohn's disease, 47 with ulcerative colitis, and 29 controls.VEGF levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbentassay. Mean VEGF levels were significantly higher inpatients with Crohn's disease (436.4 ± 37.2pg/ml) than in ulcerative colitis (306 ± 41.1pg/ml) or control (167.8 ± 29.6 pg/ml) patients.Serum VEGF also correlated significantly with diseaseactivity, being elevated in patients withmoderate/severe Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Weconclude that serum VEGF is released by inflamed tissuesin children with Crohn's disease. This multifunctionalcytokine could promote inflammation by increasing vascular permeability or promote wound healingby mediating capillary growth.