Increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor messenger RNA in lungs of rats after cavopulmonary anastomosis

Abstract

doi:10.1016/j.jtcvs.2004.04.006 Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) are abnormal blood vessels that develop in a significant number of patients undergoing cavopulmonary anastomosis (CPA). PAVMs result in hypoxemia and decreased exercise tolerance from intrapulmonary right-to-left shunting. Histologically, PAVMs appear as numerous dilated and thin-walled vessels that extend far into the periphery of the pulmonary parenchyma. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an important mediator of both normal and abnormal vascular proliferation. We have demonstrated increased protein expression of VEGF and its receptor in the lungs of children after CPA. This study describes our attempts to measure VEGF messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in a rat model of PAVMs after CPA.