Epidermal growth factor and gastrin in scleroderma/CREST syndrome.
BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to determine levels of epidermal growth factor ( EGF) and gastrin ( GA) in saliva, serum, and urine in scleroderma (Scl) and CREST syndrome. METHODS: EGF and GA levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in saliva, serum and urine in 10 patients (51 years, median; range, 35-66 years); 9 females and 1 male with Scl, 3 females with CREST syndrome, and 18 age- and sex-matched controls, 17 females and 1 male free of any systemic inflammatory disease. RESULTS: In serum, the EGF was lower in Scl/CREST than controls (p = 0.02), while GA serum concentrations were higher in Scl/CREST (p = 0.02). In urine, EGF in Scl/CREST was slightly lower than controls (p = NS) and GA concentrations were higher than controls (p = 0.03). In saliva, the EGF levels in Scl/CREST were also slightly lower than controls (p = NS), while GA concentrations in both Scl/CREST and controls were not different (p = NS). CONCLUSIONS: Low concentrations of EGF in serum probably play a role in the pathogenesis of Scl/CREST. GA concentration can be increased as a consequence of the low levels of EGF because of the structural homology of this peptide with urogastrone, a GA inhibitor factor.[1]References
- Epidermal growth factor and gastrin in scleroderma/CREST syndrome. Jiménez-Balderas, F., Zonana-Nacach, A., Fonseca-Yerena, M.E., Ruíz-Chaparro, A., Pascoe-Lira, D. Arch. Med. Res. (1998) [Pubmed]
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