Introduction: Hemangioma is found in approximately 10% of infants as the most prevalent benign neoplasm. The natural history of hemangioma is typical for this lesion and includes two phases: fast growth during the first year of life of the child and subsequent slow regression lasting some five years. Even though the etiopathogenesis of hemangioma has not been fully elucidated, the role played in this process by vascular growth factors remains unquestionable. The aim of this work was to assess the value of serum levels of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and placental-derived growth factor (PlGF) for therapy planning in infants with hemangiomas.
Material and methods: The study group comprised 43 infants, aged 2 weeks to 6 months, with hemangiomas on the body. 25 girls and 11 boys participated in the second stage of the study done 14 months later. We analyzed correlations between serum levels of vascular growth factors and phase of hemangioma, clinical symptoms, and findings in ultrasonography with Power Doppler visualization. Normal ranges for VEGF and PlUF were established for healthy infants.
Results: The results in the study group were analyzed statistically and presented as arithmetic means, standard deviations, medians, minimal and maximal values, and percentage distributions.
Conclusions: In local population of healthy infants the ranges of VEGF and P1GF serum levels are very wide; VEGF and P1GF serum levels determined in infants affected with hemangioma do not reflect the dynamics of observable lesion's evolution.