Plasma VEGF Level Changes with Exercise in Patients with Chronic Coronary Artery Disease

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of acute and programmed physical exercise on plasma VEGF levels in chronic stable coronary artery disease patients. Following baseline evaluation, 21 patients <75 years underwent a stress myocardial perfusion scan (acute), and were then randomly assigned to perform programmed rehabilitation exercise or continue with
their normal therapy. VEGF assessed by SPECT imaging significantly decreased after stress ergometry (from 49.59±6.06 to 31.83±5.62 pg/ml; p=0.021). At one month, it increased (70.90±14.44 pg/ml) though not significantly with respect to baseline values (p=0.1) and significantly with respect to immediate post-stress values (p<0.01). No significant changes were observed
in VEGF at 3 months or when results were compared according to the presence of ischemia or programmed exercise. Acute exercise induced a significant reduction in VEGF values, without differences between programmed exercise and the control group.