ORIGINAL_ARTICLE The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a multifunctional cytokine stimulating the growth of vascular endothelial cells, survival and proliferation, inhibiting apoptosis. It is one of the most potent stimulants of vascular permeability. VEGF is found at high levels in inflammatory and tumour-associated pleural and abdominal effusions and is involved in their occurrence. In the present study, the blood plasma and abdominal fluid VEGF levels were assayed in thirty-one client-owned dogs with neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The VEGF concentration in abdominal fluid of dogs (n=6) with ascites was 190.70±34.35 pg/ml, in dogs (n=6) with peritonitis: 1449.81±365.42 pg/ml and in dogs (n=9) with tumour-associated effusion: 1993.13±202.56 pg/ml. Blood plasma VEGF of healthy dogs (control group, n=10) was 36.79±5.72 pg/ml, in dogs with ascites: 57.92±2.88 pg/ml, in dogs with peritonitis: 76.98±7.24 pg/ml and in dogs with tumour-associated effusion: 173.50±40.9 pg/ml. There were substantial differences between blood plasma and abdominal fluid VEGF levels. https://macvetrev.mk/Files/Article/2019/10.2478/macvetrev-2019-0021/macvetrev-2019-0021.pd 2020-10-15T09:00:00 163 168 10.2478/macvetrev-2019-0021 vascular endothelial growth factor abdominal fluid tumours dogs Tsanko Hristov hristov_vet@abv.bg false 1 Department of Internal Non-Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, Stara Zagora 6000, Bulgaria LEAD_AUTHOR Ferrara, N. (2004). Vascular endothelial growth factor: basic science and clinical progress. Endocrine Reviews 25(4): 581-611. PMid:15294883 1 10.1210/er.2003-0027 Pidgeon, G.P., Barr, M.P., Harmey, J.H., Foley, D.A., Bouchier-Hayes, D.J. (2001). 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