Serum platelet derived growth factor levels in patients with lupus nephritis

Abstract

Platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) is initially isolated from platelets as a potent mitogenicfactor. The role of PDGF in pathogenesis of many disease has been investigated. We investigated serum levels of PDGF in 55 SLE pa¬tients (45 female, 10 male, mean age of 33.6, 45 active and 10 inactive) and 25 healthy persons (16 female and 9 male, mean age of 31.8). Twenty five SLE patients had renal involvement. Histopatological diagnosis and, chronicity and activity indices were assessed. There were no difference in serum PDGF levels between patients with active SLE (1110.7 ± 618.8 pg/ml) and inactive SLE (1498 ± 505.8 pg/ml) and controls (1210 ± 399.7 pg/ml). There were no difference concerning serum PDGF levels in the patients with renal involvement (913 ±528.4 pg/ml) comparing with control group and patients without renal involvement (1366 ± 632.6 pg/ml). There were no difference between the groups with activity index 0-3 (1068 ± 458.4 pg/ml) and 4-8 (985 ±548.5 pg/ml), and between the goups with chronicity index 0 (1102.6±286.2 pg/ml) and 1 (1021.6 ± 216.1 pg/ml) and cont¬rol group (P>0.05, P>0.05 respectively). Serum PDGF levels were significantly low in the groups with activity index 9-1.2 (579 ±224.5_pg/ml) and 13-16 (449.7 ± 261.3 pg/ml), and in the groups with chronicity index 2 (529 ± 118.5 pg/ml), 3 (477 ± 148.5 pg/ml) and 4-6 (380 ± 99.4 pg/ml) compared with control group (P