Fibrogenic growth factors in encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Increased local levels of fibrogenic growth hormones contribute substantially to the process of encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) in animal models.
METHODS: We analyzed probes from patients with normal kidney function (n = 10), with normal kidney function and inflammation (n = 10), on PD without (n = 10) and with EPS (n = 9). We investigated the degree of fibrosis and the number of vessels and vasculopathy. Additionally, we investigated the expression of NFkappaB, TGFbeta1, TGFbeta1 receptor, TGFbeta2, TGFbeta2 receptor, FGF-BP, CTGF and VEGF by immunohistochemistry.
RESULTS: In EPS, we found an exclusive upregulation of VEGF (normal 0, appendicitis 1.0 +/- 1.2, PD 1.7 +/- 1.8 and EPS 5.7 +/- 4.4; p < 0.0001), whereas in PD, CTGF was significantly increased (normal 6.0 +/- 2.8, appendicitis 7.3 +/- 2.5, PD 10.0 +/- 1.8 and EPS 7.3 +/- 2.1; p = 0.0059). The results for the TGFbeta system and NFkappaB were not uniform, in EPS no increases were demonstrable. Vasculopathy was significantly more pronounced in EPS (normal 0.4 +/- 0.5, appendicitis 0.2 +/- 0.3, PD 1.0 +/- 0.7 and EPS 1.6 +/- 1.2; p < 0.0001) than in PD or inflammation (normal 30 +/- 16, appendicitis 82 +/- 48, PD 1,936 +/- 952 and EPS 2,613 +/- 1,209; p < 0.0001), whereas the density of vessels were decreased (normal 125 +/- 114, appendicitis 817 +/- 347, PD 81 +/- 57 and EPS 36 +/- 33; p < 0.0001).
CONCLUSIONS: The process of EPS was associated with increased VEGF in the peritoneum. The reduced density of vessels compared with marked fibrosis could point to hypoxia as an inducer.