Association of Circulating Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Levels With Autoimmune Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Autoimmune diseases (ADs) are characterized by immune-mediated tissue damage, in which angiogenesis is a prominent pathogenic mechanism. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), an angiogenesis modulator, is significantly elevated in several ADs including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic sclerosis (SSc), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We determined whether circulating VEGF levels were associated with ADs based on pooled evidence.

Methods

The analyses included 165 studies from the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases and fulfilled the study criteria. Comparisons of circulating VEGF levels between patients with ADs and healthy controls were performed by determining pooled standard mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence in

SUBMITTER: Zhan H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8191579 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature