Angiogenic Lung Factor: New Predictive Tool in PAH?

Pulmonary microvascular remodeling contributes significantly to the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Authors of the current study hypothesized that levels of a circulating angiogenic factor could be used to predict disease severity and survival.

Serum hepatoma derived growth factor (HDGF) is an angiogenic factor involved in lung remodeling and secreted by pulmonary endothelial cells that may prove a more reliable measure of risk than NTProBNP in persons with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

HDGF levels were significantly elevated in both PAH cohorts; elevated HDGF linked to significantly lower exercise tolerance, worse NYHA functional class, higher levels of NTproBNP.

Threshold value of HDGF to distinguish PAH from healthy: Sensitivity 73, specificity 85, positive predictive value 76%, negative predictive value 89%.

Source: Yang J, Nies MK, Fu Z, et al. Hepatoma derived growth factor predicts disease severity and survival in pulmonary arterial hypertension. Am J Respir Crit Care Med.  Published online June 2 2016.