Elevated serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels in patients with polycythemia vera and thrombotic complications

Abstract

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induces platelet activation in a thrombin-dependent manner. We tested the serum VEGF levels in patients with polycythemia vera (PV) and found a significant correlation between increased VEGF and thrombosis. These findings suggest that high VEGF levels might contribute to the occurrence of thrombosis in this hematologic malignancy.