Immunohistological features related to functional impairment in lymphangioleiomyomatosis

Respiratory Research

Table 3 Comparison of morphological, laboratorial, functional, and survival/lung transplantation data between the two groups

Parameters	Less severe (FEV₁ ≥ 75% of predicted); n = 19	More severe (FEV₁ ≤ 51% of predicted); n = 12	p
Density of nodules	0.048 (0.09)	0.218 (0.26)	0.002
Density of cysts	0.337 (0.93)	1.903 (2.61)	0.001
LAM lesions/case	10 (19)	59 (84)	0.001
D2-40	0.001 (0.010)	0.008 (0.004)	0.087
MMP-9	0.011 (0.024)	0.066 (0.096)	< 0.001
mTOR	0.001 (0.010)	0.013 (0.024)	0.002
VEGF-D	0.010 (0.019)	0.058 (0.067)	0.002
serum VEGF-D^a (pg/mL)	821 (1273)	1411 (1468)	0.15
FEV₁ (L)	2.73 ± 0.49	1.01 ± 0.41	< 0.001
FEV₁ (% predicted)	95.05 ± 14.01	35.33 ± 12.60	< 0.001
DLco (ml/min/mmHg)	21.00 ± 4.95	8.09 ± 2.67	< 0.001
DL_CO (% predicted)	80.26 ± 20.59	33.89 ± 11.49	< 0.001
Death n (%)	0	2 (16.6)
Lung transplantation n (%)	0	7 (58.3)
Referred to lung transplantation n (%)	0	3 (25)

Values are median (interquartile range) or mean ± SD or number of cases (%)
DL_CO diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide, D2-40 podoplanin, FEV₁ forced expiratory volume in the first second, MMP-9 metalloproteinase 9, mTOR mammalian target of rapamycin, VEGF-D vascular endothelial growth factor-D
Density of nodules is expressed as the relation between area of nodules and lung tissue area. Density of cysts is expressed as the relation between the area of cysts and lung tissue area. Protein expression is presented as the relation between area of positive staining and lung tissue area
^aSerum levels of VEGF-D were available for 17 patients in the less severe group and 6 patients in the more severe group

ISSN: 1465-993X