Imbalance in production between vascular endothelial growth factor and endostatin in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract

Our results reveal significant differences in b-FGF and VEGF levels in PB and joint fluid samples, but no difference in endostatin levels, between patients with RA and those without RA, suggesting that angiogenesis in RA occurs as a result of an imbalance in production between angiogenic growth factors and angiogenesis inhibitors.