Vascular endothelial growth factor, soluble Fms-like tyrosine kinase 1, and the severity of coronary artery disease

Background: The association between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1), and coronary artery disease (CAD) was investigated. Methods: We enrolled 112 hypertensive patients with proven CAD and 112 hypertensive controls matched for age and gender. The severity of CAD was assessed by the most severe clinical presentation of CAD in patients' history and by the number of diseased vessels. Results: Vascular endothelial growth factor level was lower, whereas sFlt-1 level was higher in the CAD group compared to the controls. Diabetes mellitus (P =.001), smoking (P =.004), and higher sFlt-1 level (P =.01) were independently associated with CAD. Younger age (P =.02), smoking (P =.049), and higher VEGF levels (P =.02) were independently associated with a history of myocardial infarction (MI), whereas higher sFlt-1 level (P =.01) was independently associated with multivessel disease. Conclusion: Plasma sFlt-1 levels are positively associated with the presence of CAD and are associated with angiographical severity of CAD.