Abstract
Angiopoietin (Ang)-1 and -2 play important roles in maintaining vascular homeostasis. This study aimed to assess the roles of angiopoietin (Ang)-1 and -2 and to investigate the clinical significance of their serum levels in patients with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) induced by enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC). Twenty patients with HUS and 15 healthy controls were studied. Serum Ang-1 and Ang-2 levels were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results were compared with the clinical features of HUS. During the HUS phase, serum Ang-1 levels were significantly decreased, whereas serum Ang-2 levels and the Ang-2/Ang-1 ratio were significantly elevated. Compared with patients without encephalopathy, serum Ang-2 levels and Ang-2/Ang-1 ratio were significantly elevated in patients with encephalopathy. Patients with HUS and serum Ang-2 levels of>7061pg/mL or Ang2/Ang1 ratios of>2.29 were at high risk of encephalopathy. Serum Ang-1 levels were significantly decreased in patients in the pre-HUS phase compared with those in healthy controls. Disruption of homeostasis of vascular endothelial function by Ang-1 and -2 may be closely associated with the development of HUS. Serum Ang-1 and -2 levels and the Ang-2/Ang-1 ratio may be promising indicators of disease activity in HUS and the development of encephalopathy.
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