Expressions of serum VEGF and NO and their correlation in patients with ulcerative colitis

Objective To research the correlation of VEGF and NO in the genesis and development of ulcerative colitis. Methods According to the severity of ulcerative colitis,the patients were divided into the active group(n=44) and the remission group(n=16),while the healthy examiners were compiled into the control group(n=20). Early morning fasting blood was taken to test levels of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF),nitricoxide (NO),white blood cell (WBC)and platelet count(PLT). Results Levels of VEGF and NO in the active group were significantly higher than in the remission group(P0.001) and the control group(P0.001),while there were no significant differences(P0.05) between the remission group and the control group. In the active group,there was a positive correlation (r=0.48,P0.01) between VEGF and NO,while there was no correlation in the control group (r=0.179,P0.05). In addition,in the active group,the patients whose WBC and PLT counts were beyond the normal reference accounted for only 22.7% and 31.8% respectively. Overall,WBC and PLT levels were significantly different in the active group compared with the control group (P0.001 or P0.01). Conclusion VEGF and NO may have synergistic effect in the occurrence and development of ulcerative colitis.