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CLINICAL STUDY: BRIEF REPORT: Serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor A increase during alcohol withdrawal
Author(s) -
Heberlein Annemarie,
Muschler Marc,
Lenz Bernd,
Frieling Helge,
Büchl Christa,
Gröschl Michael,
Riera Rafael,
Kornhuber Johannes,
Bleich Stefan,
Hillemacher Thomas
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
addiction biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.445
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1369-1600
pISSN - 1355-6215
DOI - 10.1111/j.1369-1600.2010.00215.x
Subject(s) - medicine , vascular endothelial growth factor , alcohol , cardiology , vegf receptors , biology , biochemistry
Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF‐A) is a key regulator of angiogenesis. This study investigated VEGF‐A serum levels during alcohol withdrawal (days 1, 7 and 14, 76 male patients, 38 healthy controls). Patients showed significantly higher VEGF‐A serum levels ( t = 2.620, P = 0.010), which increased significantly during withdrawal ( F = 4.484, P = 0.014, mean difference = −36.835, P = 0.037). The increase of VEGF‐A serum levels was significantly associated with initial breath alcohol concentration and the sumscore of the severity scale of alcohol dependence (SESA questionnaire, F = 5.252, P = 0.008). Increase of VEGF‐A serum levels is closely associated to alcohol intoxication and severity of alcohol dependence.