Serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with duchenne muscular dystrophy

Abstract

Background: Muscular Dystrophies (MDs) are a heterogeneous group of degenerative disorders often characterized by progressive muscle weakness and fragility. The most common and severe form among children is Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene, with an average life expectancy around 25 years of age. Vasculer endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was originally described as an endothelial cell-specific mitogen. VEGF is produced by many cell types including tumor cells, macrophages, platelets, keratinocytes, and renal mesangial cells . VEGF plays a role in normal physiological functions such as bone formation, hematopoiesis and wound healing.VEGF may reflect hypoxic and/or ischemic conditions in muscle tissue and have a relationship with the process of disease progression in DMD patients. CD45 is the prototypic member of transmembrane receptor-like protein tyrosine phosphatases (RPTPs) and has essential roles in immune functions. CD34 is a cell surface antigen of unknown function expressed in humans in hematopoietic stem cells and vascular endothelium *Aim of the study:Measuring serum vascular endothelial growth factor,CD34 and CD45 level in patients with Duchenne musculer dystrophy in comparison with normal persons as a new line of diagnosis for new lines of treatment. *Materials and methods :This study is a cross sectional study and it was conducted on 20 patients recruited from Neurology out Patient clinic of Pediatric Hospital, Faculty of Medicine; Ain shams University. *Results: In the present study VEGF,CD34 and CD45 were higher in DMD patients compared to controls. *Conclusion: VEGF may reflect hypoxic and/or ischemic conditions in muscle tissue, and have a relationship with the process of disease progression in DMD patients.