Regular assessment of serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels to monitor POEMS syndrome.
Neurol Sci
; 45(2): 727-733, 2024 Feb.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37702830
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
To investigate the utility of regular serum VEGF (sVEGF) levels assessment in the monitoring of POEMS syndrome.METHODS:
We retrospectively reviewed data of 30 patients with POEMS syndrome whose sVEGF was tested regularly every 6 months. sVEGF levels after treatment were measured and correlated with disability (Overall Neuropathy Limitations Scale, ONLS), clinical impairment (measured with the modified Clinical Response Evaluation Scale, mCRES), and relapse-free survival. The ability of sVEGF to predict disease flares during remission and refractory disease was also analysed.RESULTS:
Patients with normalised serum VEGF levels (< 1000 pg/ml) at 6 months showed prolonged relapse-free survival (at 3-year 94% for complete VEGF response, 57% partial, 0% none, p < 0.001) and greater later clinical improvement (median ΔmCRES complete VEGF response -5 vs partial -4, p = 0.019, and vs no VEGF response -2, p = 0.006). After remission, the sensitivity of 6-month sVEGF monitoring in predicting clinical relapse was 58% with a specificity of 100%. In patients refractory to treatment, the sensitivity in predicting further clinical worsening was 15%. In addition, in 25% of the patients in remission and 16% of those refractory to therapy, sVEGF levels only increased at the time of relapse.CONCLUSIONS:
Regular sVEGF assessment is a valid biomarker in the prediction of disease reactivation in POEMS syndrome and was particularly useful during the phase of remission.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Síndrome POEMS
/
Fator A de Crescimento do Endotélio Vascular
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Neurol Sci
Assunto da revista:
NEUROLOGIA
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Itália