The relationship between serum vascular endothelial growth factor (SVEGF) and beta thalassemia major

Background: Beta thalassemia is an inherited disorder characterized by absent or reduced amounts of beta globin chains. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is a significant regulator of hemangioblast differentiation. This study was aimed to assess serum VEGF levels in patients with beta thalassemia major in comparison with control group. Methods: This historical cohort study was conducted on 36 patients with β–thalassemia major who had received regular blood transfusion and 26 healthy people which were referred for checkup in a general hospital, Sari, north of Iran, during March to May 2015. Demographic characterization and laboratory tests such as Complete Blood Count (CBC), and evaluation of levels of serum ferritin, serum VEGF, hepatitis B virus antibody and hepatitis C virus antibody were carried out for our patients. The statistical analyses were performed by SPSS (16) software. The Pearson correlation coefficient test was used to test the significant correlations for quantitative parameters. A value of P 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Mean serum VEGF level in case and control groups was 153.8 ± 77.5 and 120.2± 45.4 pg/ml, respectively. Serum VEGF level was higher in beta thalassemia major (p= 0.037). Serum VEGF level was significantly higher in splenectomized patients (P=0.006). There was not any significant correlation between serum VEGF levels and Hemoglobin, WBC and platelet count and neither was with serum ferritin level (p 0.05). Conclusion: Serum VEGF level was higher in thalassemic patients. Splenectomized patients had higher serum VEGF levels than others.