The Relationship of VEGF Expression, Histologic Grade, and Proteinuria in the IgA Nephropathy

초록

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a highly selective mitogen in vascular endothelial cells and increases microvascular permeability. It might be involved in the development of proteinuria. In IgA nephropathy, the findings associated with poor prognosis are following; heavy proteinuria, hypertension, persistently decreased glomerular filtration rate, increased serum creatin, severe histologic grade, glomerular sclerosis, interstitial nephritis or fibrosis, endocapillary proliferation, and numerous circumferential crescents. The aim of this study is to evaluate relationship between histologic grade and degree of expression of the VEGF. The relationship between histologic frade and degree of proteinuria was also evaluated. Seventy patients of IgA nephropathy were selected. Immunohistochemistry was performed on the paraffin-embedded tissue using the anti VEGF antibody. The grading of intensity of VEGF expression was done; 0, 1, 2, and 3. The histologic grading was done according to WHO and Haas classification. There was no relationship between histologic grade and VEGF expression. However, both histologic gradings were correlated with the 24 hour urine protein level. The glomerular VEGF expression was also correlated with the 24 hour urine protein level. These results suggest that VEGF expression is related to the proteinuria, and it is not related to the histologic grade. However, considering that histologic grade is correlated with the proteinuria. VEGF may play a role in the progression of IgA nephropathy.