Fig. 2.

Placental growth factor (PlGF) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) levels associate with measures of cardiopulmonary severity in scleroderma. a and b PlGF levels inversely correlate with diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) (ρ = −0.31; p = 0.01; n = 70) and positively correlate with forced vital capacity (FVC)/DLCO ratio (ρ = 0.26; p = 0.03; n = 70). c–e sFlt-1 levels inversely correlate with DLCO (ρ = −0.29; p = 0.01; n = 76) and positively correlate with right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) (ρ = 0.32; p = 0.01; n = 61) and FVC/DLCO ratio (ρ = 0.23; p = 0.04; n = 76). Low DLCO, high RVSP, and high FVC/DLCO ratio are measures of pulmonary vascular disease