The investigation of the levels of VEGF (Vascular endothelial growth factor) and VEGFR-1 (Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1) in serum and nodule in the cases which have been undergone a fine-needle aspiration biopsy from tyhroid nodules

Thyroid nodules are determined by palpation %10 in women approximately %2 in men. When the sonography is used, this rate rise to %50. Several molecules have been identified in the pathophysiology of thyroid neoplasms. In particular, aggressiveness and metastasis of neoplasms associated with the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), PDGF, EGF, TGF-α, IGF I and II, FGF, TSH, Estrogen, HCG, GH, VEGF, VIP. In our study, the nodular thyroid patients' levels of VEGF and VEGFR1 in serum and in nodules were planned to be identified. The clinical findings, thyroid function tests, routine ultrasonography and scintigraphy data and demographic data (age, gender, occupation) of 80 thyroid nodule cases were recorded. The levels of VEGF and SVEGFR1 in aspiration material and serum were measured by Elisa method, after fine-needle aspiration biopsy. The clinical, laboratorial and pathological results were compared. The levels of VEGFR1 in serum and inside nodules have been shown meaningfully high patients with the increase of age (respectively p= 0,008, p= 0,01). Additionally, the levels of VEGFR1 inside nodule were decreased in patients with the increase of body mass index (p= 0,004). Serum VEGFR1 levels with inside of nodule VEGFR1 have been correlated (p= 0,006). Serum VEGF levels with inside of nodule VEGF have been correlated (p= 0,001). Seven cases of FNAB were detected suspicious or malignant. 15.7 %, 63.2% and 21.1% of the cases which have been sent to surgery have been detected as, malignant, nodular hyperplasia and follicular adenoma, respectively. When the cases are compared between Hypoactive and hyperactive as scintigraphic, TSH was found significantly lower in hyperactive (p= 0,017) and Serum VEGF was shown to be significantly higher in hyperactive (p= 0,024). When the cases are compared with respect to obese and normal weighted patients, TSH was detected significantly higher in obese people (p= 0,014). The levels of VEGFR1 in nodule of normal weighted people are detected as significantly high (p= 0,02). When the cases were taken as hypothyroidism, euthyroid, hyperthyroidism; SVEGFR-1 levels are detected as significantly high in patients with hyperthyroidism compared to levels of SVEGFR1 euthyroid patients (p= <0,05). VEGFR1 levels in nodules were detected as significanly high in patients with hyperthyroidism compared to levels of VEGFR1 euthyroid patients (p= 0,003). VEGFR1 levels in nodules with Hypothyroidism were significantly higher than euthyroid patients (p= 0,016). As a result; Serum and nodule VEGF and sVEGFR1 were found related with clinical and laboratory parameters of thyroid nodule formation.