Vol.23 No.5

Original Article

Dynamics of serum angiopoietin-2 levels correlate with efficacy of intravenous pulse cyclophosphamide therapy for interstitial lung disease associated with systemic sclerosis

Authors

Takehiro Takahashi¹ , Yoshihide Asano¹ , Kaname Akamata¹ , Naohiko Aozasa¹ , Takashi Taniguchi¹ , Shinji Noda¹ , Yuri Masui¹ , Yohei Ichimura¹ , Tetsuo Toyama¹ , Zenshiro Tamaki¹ , Yayoi Tada¹ , Makoto Sugaya¹

Received:

23 May 2012

Accepted:

22 August 2012

Published online:

13 September 2012

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Abstract

Objective Angiopoietin-2 (Ang2) regulates the transition　between vascular quiescence and angiogenesis in a context-dependent manner. In systemic sclerosis (SSc), serum　Ang2 levels correlate with its disease activity. Therefore,　we investigated the clinical significance of monitoring　serum Ang2 levels during intravenous pulse cyclophosphamide　(IVCY) therapy in SSc patients with interstitial　lung disease (ILD). Methods Serum Ang2 levels were determined by a specific　enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in seven SSc　patients treated with IVCY and 20 healthy controls. In the　patient group, serum samples were drawn the day before　each IVCY therapy.
Results Serum Ang2 levels tended to be higher in SSc patients before IVCY than in healthy controls and significantly correlated with KL-6, surfactant protein D, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein in SSc patients with ILD. In sera drawn before the last IVCY, Ang2 levels were significantly decreased compared with initial levels. Notably, D serum Ang2 levels between baseline and after the first IVCY significantly correlated with D ILD score between before and after the entire IVCY therapy (r = 0.90, p%ABST%.01).
Conclusion Monitoring Ang2 levels during IVCY treatment may be useful to evaluate and predict the efficacy of this treatment for SSc-ILD.

Key words

Angiopoietin-2, Interstitial lung disease, Intravenous pulse cyclophosphamide, Systemic sclerosis