Is increased circulating vascular endothelial growth factor correlated with disease activity in polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis?
The correlation of serum VEGF levels and disease activity in polyarticular JRA suggests that VEGF may take an active part in joint inflammation.
In the present study, uET/Cr increased after the administration of CM only in the patients with renal impairment. This difference in endothelin reaction may be a causal one, in that patients with renal insufficiency readily develop RCN. The infusion of half-normal saline starting before CM infusion causes no side effects and is safe for the prevention of CM-induced acute renal failure. The aim of the study was to examine the role of endothelin in radiocontrast-induced nephropathy (RCN) in patients with chronic renal failure.