VEGF stands for Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor. VEGF is a growth factor that promotes the growth of new blood vessels. The body makes VEGF in response to low oxygen levels, also known as hypoxia. Thus, when tissues are receiving too little oxygen rich blood flow, VEGF is produced to provide a better blood supply to the tissues. VEGF also increases the permeability or leakiness of blood vessels. In fact, one form of VEGF, VEGF-A was once known as vascular permeability factor. VEGF plays a role in cell metabolism, bone formation, and blood cell creation (hematopoiesis). Unfortunately, cancer cells also produce VEGF to help improve their own blood flow. Interestingly, cancer treatments have been developed to block the action of VEGF to starve cancerous tumors of blood flow.
Sources:
https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=167&contentid=vegf
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/overview-of-angiogenesis-inhibitors
http://www.questdiagnostics.com/testcenter/BUOrderInfo.action?tc=14512X&labCode=QER
The significance of a VEGF level that is too low is unknown.
Understand and improve your laboratory results with our health dashboard.
Upload your lab reports and get interpretation today.
Our technology helps to understand, combine, track, organize, and act on your medical lab test results.
An elevated VEGF level in the serum may indicate the presence of cancer. Chronic states of hypoxia such as COPD may increase VEGF levels. In addition, people with serious or chronic wounds may have elevated VEGF levels. VEGF is produced in people with low platelet levels (thrombocytopenia).
Some specific causes of high VEGF are:
- Solid cancers (e.g. gastric cancer)
- Non-Hodgkin lymphomas,
- Acute myeloid and lymphoid leukemias,6,12,13
- Chronic myeloid and lymphoid leukemias13 and
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Idiopathic myelofibrosis
- Thrombocytopenia
Interpret Your Lab Results
Upload your lab report and we’ll interpret and provide you with recomendations today.
Get Started
Get Started With Our Personal Plan
Advanced Plan
Unlimited Plan
Are You a Health Professional?
Get started with our professional plan
Welcome to Healthmatters Pro.
Save time on interpreting lab results with the largest database of biomarkers online. In-depth research on any test at your fingertips, all stored and tracked in one place. Learn more
Pro Plan
for health professionals
$45 per month
At HealthMatters, we're committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We've put industry-leading security standards in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. We use procedural, physical, and electronic security methods designed to prevent unauthorized people from getting access to this information. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. All data is backed up multiple times a day and encrypted using SSL certificates. See our Privacy Policy for more details.
14.3.3 ETA PROTEIN, Acetylcholine Receptor (AChR) Antibody, Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), Alpha 2-Macroglobulins, Qn, ANA SCREEN, IFA, ANA titer, Anti-DBL-Strand DNA Ab, Anti-Smith Antibody, Anticardiolipin Ab, IgM, Anticardiolipin Ab,IgA,Qn, Anticardiolipin Ab,IgG,Qn, Antinuclear Antibodies Direct (ANA Direct), Antiphosphatidylserine IgA, Antiphosphatidylserine IgG, Antiphosphatidylserine IgM, C1 Esterase Inhibitor, Func, C1 Esterase Inhibitor, Serum, C3A Desarg Fragment, CARDIOLIPIN AB (IGA), CARDIOLIPIN AB (IGG), CARDIOLIPIN AB (IGM), CCP Antibodies IgG/IgA, Complement C3, Complement C3a, Complement C4, Serum, Complement C4a, Complement, Total (CH50), Complement, Total (CH50) / Quest, Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Antibody, Dilute Russell's viper venom time (dRVVT), DRVVT SCREEN, ds-DNA Antibody, IgG, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), Free Kappa Lt Chains, Serum, Free Lambda Lt Chains, Serum, Gastrin, Histamine, Plasma, HLA-B27 (Human Leukocyte Antigen B27), Immature Grans (Abs), Immature Granulocytes (%), Immunofixation Result, Serum, Immunoglobulin A, Qn, Serum, Immunoglobulin D, Quant, Serum, Immunoglobulin E, Total, Immunoglobulin G, Qn, Serum, Immunoglobulin M, Qn, Serum, Interleukin-2, Serum, Interleukin-6, Jo 1 Antibodies, IgG, Serum, Kappa/Lambda Ratio, Serum, Liver-Kidney Microsomal Antibodies, Lupus Anticoagulant, PHOSPHATIDYLETHANOLAMINE AB (IGA), PHOSPHATIDYLETHANOLAMINE AB (IGG), PHOSPHATIDYLETHANOLAMINE AB (IGM), PHOSPHATIDYLSERINE AB (IGA), PHOSPHATIDYLSERINE AB (IGG), PHOSPHATIDYLSERINE AB (IGM), Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor (PAI-1) AG, Prothrombin Fragment 1.2, Prothrombin Time (PT), Prothrombin Time (PT) INR, RA Latex Turbid, Reptilase Clotting Time, Rheumatoid factor, TGF-b1, Thrombin time, Thrombin-Antithrombin TAT, Transforming Growth Factor beta, Plasma, Tryptase, VEGF, Plasma
