Diagnostic efficacy of serum vascular endothelial growth factor -D in diffuse cystic lung disease.

The study was performed to investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor D in lymphangiomyomatosis and its value in differential diagnosis of diffuse cystic lung disease. <bold>Methods:</bold> Serum samples were obtained from 70 cases of LAM (without mTOR inhibitor treatment), 24 cases of BHD, 12 cases of LIP, 5 cases of LCH, 67 cases of emphysema and 50 healthy volunteers who were hospitalized for the first time between September 2020 and December 2021 at our center. Using the Quantikine® Human VEGF-D Immunoassay(USA R&D Systems, Inc.), VEGF-D were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The concentrations of VEGF-D was statistically analyzed by SPSS 20 to explore its specificity and sensitivity. <bold>Results:</bold> The levels of VEGF-D in LAM and healthy control groups were (1523.7±981.2) pg/ mL and (363.5±111.7) pg/ml, with statistically significant difference (P <0.001). The ROC curve area was 0.9010, and the optimal cut-off value was 584.6pg/ mL. The sensitivity and specificity were 80.95% and 96%. The groups with other diffuse cystic lung disease, including emphysema, BHD syndrome, LIP and LCH were (368.2±160.2) pg/ mL, and the difference was also statistically significant (P <0.001). The ROC curve area was 0.9052, and the optimal cut-off value was 816.2pg/ mL. The sensitivity and specificity were 71.43% and 100% respectively. <bold>Conclusions:</bold> Serum VEGF-D levels in LAM are significantly increased, with highly specificity, which can be used as a differential diagnosis method for LAM and other diffuse cystic lung diseases. However, its sensitivity is not high. When VEGF-D is lower than 800pg/ mL, other clinical symptoms or pathological results should be combined for diagnosis.