Association of Circulating Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Levels With Autoimmune Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
patients with autoimmune diseases (ADs), healthy controls
circulating VEGF levels
comparisons of circulating VEGF levels between patients with ADs and healthy controls
association between circulating VEGF levels and ADs, prediction of disease manifestations, severity and activity in patients with ADs
Abstract
Autoimmune diseases (ADs) are characterized by immune-mediated tissue damage, in which angiogenesis is a prominent pathogenic mechanism. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), an angiogenesis modulator, is significantly elevated in several ADs including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic sclerosis (SSc), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We determined whether circulating VEGF levels were associated with ADs based on pooled evidence. The analyses included 165 studies from the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases and fulfilled the study criteria. Comparisons of circulating VEGF levels between patients with ADs and healthy controls were performed by determining pooled standard mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) in a random-effect model using STATA 16.0. Subgroup, sensitivity, and meta-regression analyses were performed to determine heterogeneity and to test robustness. Compared with healthy subjects, circulating VEGF levels were significantly higher in patients with SLE (SMD 0.84, 95% CI 0.25-1.44, Circulating VEGF levels were associated with ADs and could predict disease manifestations, severity and activity in patients with ADs. PROSPERO, identifier CRD42021227843.