VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR AS A MARKER FOR CORONARY ARTERY INSUFFICIENCY

Abstract

Atherosclerosis is a major health problem, allover the world. It is considered as a maJor determinant m cerebrovascular stroke, peripheral vascular insufficiency, congestive hemt failure, cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death due to heart attack. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a specific endothelial cell mitogen which favours angiogenesis, and also may play an important role m the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. Thus, VEGF measurement might contribute to understanding this pathogenesis. The aim of the present study was to assess the clinical significance of VEGF as a marker for coronary artery insufficiency. Moreover, the study aims at evaluating the role of this marker in diagnosing the severity of the condition. This study included 40 subjects, 10 of them were healthy volunteers and. were considered as healthy control (group I). The other 30 subjects were suffering from anginal pain and were subjected to coronary angiography.