Preliminary Investigation Of Clinical Value Of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor And Hypoxia-inducible Factor-1É‘ In Pericardial Fluid In Diagnosing Malignant And Tuberculous Pericardial Effusions

Objective: To investigate the clinical value of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1É‘(HIF-1É‘) in diagnosing malignant and tuberculous pericardial effusion.Methods: 80 patients with exudative pericardial effusion undergoing pericardiocentesis and drainage were classified into malignancy and tuberculosis groups. The levels of HIF-1É‘, VEGF, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and adenosine deaminase (ADA) in pericardial fluid and serum were measured. Routine and cytological examination of pericardial fluid, clinical characteristics and some blood parameters were compared between the two groups.Results: There were 33 patients with tuberculous pericardial effusion and 47 cases with malignant pericardial effusion. The levels of VEGF and HIF-1É‘in pericardial fluid in the malignancy group were significantly higher than that in the tuberculosis group (P < 0.01), between the levels of VEGF and HIF-1a there were moderate positive correlation (r = 0.79, P < 0.01). The sensitivity and specificity of combining VEGF and HIF-1a were 90.8% and 88.3% respectively. The two groups showed no differences in gender distribution, fever, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, the levels of hemoglobin, LDH, ADA, serum HIF-1É‘and VEGF, the routine of pericardial fluid.Conclusion: Both VEGF and HIF-1É‘of pericardial fluid have determinate value in the differential diagnosis of malignant and tuberculous pericardial effusion.