Background: A progressive reduction in peritubular capillary flow is observed in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients as the disease severity progresses. This suggests an altered vascular homeostasis in CKD patients, but such a defective mechanism needs to be verified.
Methods: To study the vascular injury as reflected by circulating endothelial cell (CEC), the balance between angiogenic factor, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and antiangiogenic factor, endostatin.
Results: A deficient VEGF was observed, whereas the value of endostatin and CEC were abnormally elevated in CKD patients.
Discussion: Enhanced CEC reflects an increased activity of vascular injury. A deficient VEGF in the presence of enhanced antiangiogenesis (endostatin) implies a defective angiogenesis. This may explain the progressive nature of renal microvascular disease observed in late stage of CKD patients.