VEGF, Serum

Serum
Optimal Result: 62 - 707 pg/mL.

VEGF, Serum – Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor

What is VEGF?
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is a family of proteins—most notably VEGF-A—that play a central role in stimulating the growth of new blood vessels, a process known as angiogenesis. VEGF is essential for normal physiological functions such as wound healing and the menstrual cycle, and it also contributes to disease processes including cancer, diabetic complications, and inflammatory disorders.

Why is VEGF measured in serum?
Measuring VEGF levels in the blood can help assess abnormal blood vessel growth and inflammation. This test is primarily used in clinical research and specialized medical settings to evaluate conditions where angiogenesis is either excessive or impaired. It is important to note that serum VEGF levels can be influenced by the release of VEGF from platelets during blood clotting. For this reason, some laboratories may prefer plasma measurements for research purposes to obtain more accurate readings.

What do high VEGF levels mean?
Elevated VEGF levels in serum may indicate:

  • Cancer or tumor growth (such as breast, colon, or kidney cancers), where VEGF enables tumors to develop their own blood supply and potentially spread

  • Autoimmune or inflammatory diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis), where abnormal vessel growth and increased vascular permeability are common

  • Diabetic complications, including retinopathy and nephropathy

  • Chronic wounds or impaired tissue healing

  • Preeclampsia during pregnancy

What do low VEGF levels mean?
Lower-than-normal VEGF levels may suggest:

  • Impaired blood vessel formation, which can affect healing and tissue regeneration

  • Poor circulation or compromised tissue repair

  • Certain cardiovascular or neurodegenerative conditions, though low VEGF is less commonly used as a clinical marker

Clinical relevance and therapeutic context
VEGF testing is not part of routine health screening but is reserved for specific clinical or investigational purposes. VEGF levels can be affected by inflammation, low oxygen levels (hypoxia), and certain medications. Notably, anti-VEGF therapies—such as bevacizumab—are used in the treatment of cancers and some eye diseases to inhibit abnormal blood vessel growth. In oncology, VEGF measurements may help monitor disease progression or response to anti-angiogenic treatments.

How to prepare for the test
No special preparation is usually required for a VEGF serum test. However, your healthcare provider may advise you to avoid certain medications or supplements before the test to ensure accurate results.

Summary
VEGF is a key regulator of blood vessel growth, with important roles in both health and disease. Serum VEGF measurement can provide valuable insights in select clinical situations, particularly when abnormal angiogenesis is suspected. For more precise interpretation, discuss your results with a healthcare professional familiar with your medical history and current condition.

What does it mean if your VEGF, Serum result is too high?

Elevated VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) levels in serum typically indicate increased blood vessel formation or an ongoing response to tissue stress, injury, or disease. While VEGF plays a normal role in healing and growth, persistently high levels can point to underlying medical conditions.

Common Causes of Elevated VEGF Levels:

1. Cancer and Tumor Growth

  • Many tumors secrete VEGF to promote the growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis), which supply the tumor with oxygen and nutrients.

  • Elevated VEGF can be seen in cancers such as:

    • Colorectal cancer

    • Breast cancer

    • Non-small cell lung cancer

    • Renal cell carcinoma

    • Glioblastoma

2. Chronic Inflammation and Autoimmune Disorders

  • Conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can stimulate VEGF production as part of the inflammatory response.

3. Diabetic Complications

  • People with diabetic retinopathy or diabetic nephropathy often have elevated VEGF, as the body tries to restore blood supply to oxygen-deprived tissues.

4. Preeclampsia (in pregnancy)

  • High VEGF levels may be associated with abnormal placental development and vascular dysfunction.

5. Chronic Wound Healing or Tissue Hypoxia

  • When tissues are damaged or deprived of oxygen (hypoxia), the body releases VEGF to help repair and restore blood supply.

6. Peripheral Artery Disease or Ischemia

  • The body increases VEGF to try to compensate for reduced blood flow in blocked or narrowed arteries.


Summary:

Elevated VEGF is a signal of increased angiogenic activity, which may reflect a response to tissue damage, low oxygen levels, inflammation, or tumor-driven blood vessel growth. Its interpretation depends heavily on clinical context and is usually used alongside other diagnostic tools.

Frequently asked questions

Healthmatters is a highly-personalized health dashboard.

Instead of searching for your lab results in different places or tracking them down from different providers, Healthmatters houses, organizes, and interprets them all in one central location.

With a Healthmatters account, you can dive into the details of each biomarker and gain insights into the meaning behind your medical test data, anytime, anywhere.

For our professional users, Healthmatters provides intuitive tools that not only streamline analysis but also save valuable time when delving into your client's lab report history.

Healthmatters.io personal account provides in-depth research on 4000+ biomarkers, including information and suggestions for test panels such as, but not limited to:

  • The GI Effects® Comprehensive Stool Profile,
  • GI-MAP,
  • The NutrEval FMV®,
  • The ION Profile,
  • Amino Acids Profile,
  • Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones (DUTCH),
  • Organic Acids Test,
  • Organix Comprehensive Profile,
  • Toxic Metals,
  • Complete Blood Count (CBC),
  • Metabolic panel,
  • Thyroid panel,
  • Lipid Panel,
  • Urinalysis,
  • And many, many more.

You can combine all test reports inside your Healthmatters account and keep them in one place. It gives you an excellent overview of all your health data. Once you retest, you can add new results and compare them.

If you are still determining whether Healthmatters support your lab results, the rule is that if you can test it, you can upload it to Healthmatters.

While we work with many popular labs, we welcome reports from lots of other places too.

It's as simple as this: if you can get a test done, you can upload it to Healthmatters and we can interpret results from any lab out there. If laboratories can analyze it, we can interpret it.

If you’re on the hunt for a specific biomarker, contact us and we'll add it to our database. Anything from blood, urine, saliva, or stool can be uploaded, understood, and tracked with your Healthmatters account.

There are two ways to add your test reports to your Healthmatters account. One option is to input the data using the data entry forms. The other method is to utilize our "Data entry service."

Our data entry forms offer an easy, fast, and free way for you to input the reports yourself. Self-entry allows you to add an unlimited number of reports at no cost. We make the self-entry process user-friendly, providing dozens of templates that pre-populate the most popular laboratory panels and offering instant feedback on entered values.

For those who prefer assistance, we offer a "Data entry service" to help you input your data. Simply attach an image or file of your lab test results, and a qualified team member from our data entry team will add the results for you.

We support various file types, including PDFs, JPGs, or Excel. This service is particularly useful if you have many reports to upload or if you're too busy to handle the data entry yourself.

Our special data entry service makes it easy to add your results to your private dashboard. Just attach an image or a file of your lab test results, and our skilled data entry team will do the work for you. It's all done by humans, ensuring that your data is entered accurately and with personal care for each client.

Depending on your account, the data entry service can be included for free or come at an additional cost of $15 per report.

For users on the Complete monthly plan, the first report is entered free of charge, and each additional report incurs a fee of $15.

Unlimited account holders enjoy the entry of ten reports without charge. Subsequent reports are subject to a $15 fee per report.

Additionally, users on the Complete plan can upgrade to a yearly subscription from the account settings. The annual subscription includes a data entry service for five reports.

The Unlimited plan is a one-time purchase for $250, and it covers your account for a lifetime with no additional payments.

For the Complete plan, the cost is $15 per month. You have the flexibility to cancel it anytime through your account settings, ensuring no further payments. To avoid charges, remember to cancel at least a day before the renewal date. Once canceled, the subscription remains active until the end of the current billing cycle.

Additionally, you can upgrade to the yearly Advanced plan from within your account. The annual cost is $79, and it comes with a data entry service for five reports.

You can always upgrade to a lifetime version with a prorated price from a monthly or yearly subscription.

Simply log in and navigate to your account settings to cancel your subscription. Scroll down to locate the 'Cancel' button at the bottom of the page. Ensure you cancel at least one day before the renewal date to prevent any charges. Once cancellation is requested, the subscription remains active until the conclusion of the current billing cycle.

Our goal has been to make your Healthmatters account as intuitive as possible.

We’ve crafted multiple ways for you to navigate your data, whether you're glancing at a single report or delving into your historical test reports.

1. Graph View:

Dive into a visual journey with our biomarker graphs, showcasing over 40 data points. Combining years of results unveils trends, empowering you to make informed decisions. Our visualization tools make it a breeze to compare and understand changes over time, even if your results are from different labs. A search function and filters simplify the exploration of extensive data, allowing you to focus on what needs attention.

2. All Tests View

Explore neatly organized reports on a timeline, highlighting crucial details like dates, critical results, and lab/panel names. Each report opens up to reveal in-depth descriptions and additional recommendations for each biomarker. The history of previous results is just a click away, and you can download a comprehensive report for deeper insights. Color-coded and user-friendly, it's designed for easy reading, understanding, and navigation.

3. Table View:

For a holistic view of all biomarkers side by side, our table view is your go-to. Results are neatly displayed in a categorized and dated table, ideal for those with an extensive test history. Utilize sorting, filters, and color-coding to enhance your analysis and gain extra insights.

Yes, you can download information from your account. We can compile your labs into a CSV file. To download all your labs, you can go to Account Settings, and at the bottom of the page, you will find a link to download your information.

Yes, you can print your report. To do so, navigate to "All tests" and open the report you wish to print. You'll find a print button in the right corner of the report. Click on it, and your browser's print window will open. If you prefer to print in a bigger typeface, adjust the scale using the print window settings.

Yes, you can! We highly recommend activating Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for your account. To do so, please navigate to the "Profile and Security" section of your account, where you will find instructions for activating 2FA.

Yes, you can. When entering values for the biomarker, you will see an "Edit Range" button. Click this button, and you'll have the option to enter a custom range.

A personal account is all about keeping your own lab test results in check. It's just for you and your personal use.

The professional account is designed for health professionals who wish to track and organize their clients' laboratory results.

Yes, you can! Simply go to the "Invite Doctor" section, enter your doctor’s email address, and send the invitation. Your doctor will receive an email with secure access to view your results. You can revoke this access at any time. All shared information is securely encrypted and protected for your privacy.
Yes, you can! Go to the Graph view or Spreadsheet view. In the top-right corner, click "Export to Excel," and the file will be downloaded to your device.

Use promo code to save 10% off any plan.


We implement proven measures to keep your data safe.

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.