Diagnostic Blood Test Can Identify Lymphangioleiomyomatosis in Some Patients


CINCINNATI -- July 6, 2010 -- Researchers have found that a certain blood test can successfully identify lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) in some patients, eliminating the need for surgical lung biopsy to make a diagnosis. These findings are being published in the July 6 edition of the journal CHEST.

Lisa Young, MD, University of Cincinnati, and Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio, said the findings will help with diagnosing LAM and may also be helpful in screening for LAM in women with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC).

In the study, the test was used to analyse the amount of vascular endothelial growth factor-D (VEGF-D) in patients' blood.

Researchers performed VEGF-D testing in 195 women and found that serum VEGF-D levels were significantly greater in women with LAM than in women with other lung diseases or healthy individuals.

When they prospectively evaluated the VEGF-D test performance in women prior to knowing their diagnosis, the test showed high accuracy for diagnosis of LAM.

"We concluded that a serum VEGF-D level of >800 pg/mL in women with typical cystic changes on a high-resolution computed tomography scan is diagnostically specific for sporadic LAM and identifies LAM in women with TSC," said Dr. Young. "However, negative VEGF-D results do not exclude the diagnosis of LAM."

Frank McCormack, MD, Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Cincinnati, said that serum VEGF-D measurement is currently performed as part of a research protocol but will soon be available for clinical application.

"This was a team effort by clinicians around the world to collect blood samples and clinical data from patients with very rare lung diseases," he said. "Through their efforts and the generosity of patients who participated, we are optimistic that serum VEGF-D will join the ranks of diagnostic tests for lung disease, reduce the need for surgical lung biopsy and allow for intervention and trial recruitment earlier in the disease course."

SOURCE: University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center