Vascular endothelial growth factor in coronary sinus: Evidence for its association with coronary collaterals

Objectives. To explore whether local growth factors concentration, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor beta one (TGF-beta(1)), influence the formation of coronary collaterals. Design. Thirty-six patients scheduled for coronary angiography received a 6F Goodale-Lubin catheterization to collect blood from the coronary sinus (CS) and right atrium (RA). Results. Patients with coronary collaterals had a higher number of diseased vessels (2.6 +/- 0.2 vs. 1.4 +/- 0.3, p = 0.005), higher percentage of severity of stenosis (93 +/- 2 vs. 489/ 8, P < 0.001) and higher VEGF concentrations in CS (38.9 +/- 3.9 pg/ml vs. 20.8 +/- 1.4 pg/ml, P < 0.001) and in RA (31.7 +/- 3.1 pg/ml vs. 22.0 +/- 2.3 pg/ml, p = 0.004). There was no significant relationship between coronary collateral formation and TGF-beta(1) concentration. By binary logistic regression analysis, VEGF concentrations in CS (p = 0.030) and stenosis severity (p = 0.042) are correlated positively with collateral formation. Conclusions. The association between local, endogenous secretion of VEGF and coronary collateral formation is compatible with a paracrine role for this growth factor in pathophysiologic collateral formation.