Detection and significance of serum VEGF,TGF-β_1,TNF-α in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis

Objective:To evaluate the significance of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF),transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in predicting prognosis of patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis (DLC). Methods:Serum VEGF,TGF -β1,and TNF-α were detected in 86 patients with DLC. The correlations between the changes of serum VEGF ,TGF-β1 and TNF-α and the degree of liver injury were analyzed. Results:The serum levels of VEGF,TGF-β1 and TNF-α were all higher than those of healthy controls.With the development from liver cirrhosis to hepatic carcinoma,the levels of serum TGF-β1 and TNF-α became lower and lower (P0.05,P0.01). The levels of serum TGF-β1 and TNF-α were higher in SACLF patients than those in CLF patients (P0.05). The serum of VEGF and TNF-α levels were higher in the medium-term or later stage cases than those in the early stage cases,but the serum TGF-β1 levels were lower in the early or medium-term stage cases than those in the later stage cases (P0.05).The levels of serum VEGF and TGF-β1 were higher in the died patients than those in the survivals (P0.01),but the level of serum TNF-α was converse (P0.05). Conclusion:The serum levels of VEGF,TGF-β1 and TNF-α in patients with DLC are closely associated with the severity and prognosis of the disease. They may play important roles in the pathogenesis of DLC.