RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Clinical Significance of Serum Levels of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, Angiopoietin-1, and Angiopoietin-2 in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis JF The Journal of Rheumatology JO J Rheumatol FD The Journal of Rheumatology SP 1121 OP 1128 DO 10.3899/jrheum.090941 VO 37 IS 6 A1 DAITARO KUROSAKA A1 KENICHIRO HIRAI A1 MAKIKO NISHIOKA A1 YUKIO MIYAMOTO A1 KEN YOSHIDA A1 KENTARO NODA A1 TARO UKICHI A1 MAIMI YANAGIMACHI A1 KAZUHIRO FURUYA A1 EIGO TAKAHASHI A1 ISAMU KINGETSU A1 KUNIHIKO FUKUDA A1 AKIO YAMADA YR 2010 UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/37/6/1121.abstract AB Objective. To evaluate the clinical significance of serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1), and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods. The subjects were 70 patients with RA. Serum VEGF, Ang-1, and Ang-2 levels were determined by ELISA. As indices of disease activity, serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-3 were examined, and the 28-joint count Disease Activity Score (DAS28)-CRP was calculated. Power Doppler ultrasonography was performed in the bilateral wrists, elbows, shoulders, knees and ankles. The synovial blood flow signals were scored using a 3-grade scale (0–2), and the total of the scores in the 10 joints was regarded as the total signal score (TSS). Results. Serum VEGF level showed significant correlations with serum CRP and MMP-3 levels, DAS28-CRP, and TSS. Serum Ang-1 level showed significant correlations with serum MMP-3 level and DAS28-CRP. Serum Ang-2 level showed significant correlations with serum CRP level and TSS. Conclusion. The serum VEGF level is important as an index of the activity of RA based on angiogenesis and a prognostic factor regarding joint destruction. Serum Ang-1 level may be useful as an index of sustained arthritis based on the maintenance of newly formed vessels. Serum Ang-2 level may reflect a state of marked angiogenesis.