Circulating levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and post-stroke long-term functional outcome

Abstract

Objectives: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) acts in angiogenesis and neuroprotection, although the beneficial effects on experimental ischemic stroke (IS) have not been replicated in clinical studies. We investigated serum VEGF (s-VEGF) in the acute stage (baseline) and 3 months post-stroke in relation to stroke severity and functional outcome. Methods: The s-VEGF and serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) concentrations were measured in patients enrolled in the Sahlgrenska Academy Study on Ischemic Stroke (SAHLSIS) at the acute time-point (median 4 days, N = 492, 36% female; mean age, 57 years) and at 3 months post-stroke (N = 469). Baseline stroke severity was classified according to the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and functional outcomes (3 months and 2 years) were evaluated using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), dichotomized into good (mRS 0-2), and poor (mRS 3-6) outcomes. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were adjusted for covariates. Results: The baseline s-VEGF did not correlate with stroke severity but correlated moderately with hs-CRP (r =.17, P