Abstract: Objective　To investigate pathogenetic mechanism and progression of hemorrhoids at different stages by analyzing the expression of endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2).　Methods　134 hemorrhoids specimen were collected from the out-patients of Nanfang Hospital, and there were 42 cases of hemarrhoids in gradeⅠ, 45 in grade Ⅱ, 47 in grade Ⅲ . Normal tissues of 40 cases among these patients were used as controls. Histopathological changes were obtained from HE stained slide of the disease tissues, as well as the expression of vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2) with immunohistochemical staining.　Results　The epithelial cells were not injured and intact covering in the mucosa of the normal group and grade Ⅰ hemorrhoids, and no dilated blood vessels were found in these tissues. In grade Ⅱ hemorrhoids, they showed injury of the covering epithelial cells and mucosal muscularis, and neovascularization had been found in the mucosae propria. Grade Ⅲ hemorrhoids showed destructive cells of the covering epithelia in the mucosa, newly formed vessels with thickened wall, tortuous and dilated lumen in the mucosae propria. In comparison with the normal mucosa, expression of VEGF in fibroblasts was significantly increased along with hemarrhoids grading (F=883.961, P<0.01), and so did FGF2 (F=656.013, P<0.01); the same changes were observed with examination of VEGF (F=776.561, P<0.01) and FGF2 (F=1066.458, P<0.01) in vascular endothelial cells.    Conclusion    VEGF and FGF2 can promote the proliferation of vascular endothelial cells and fibroblasts in the formation of hemorrhoids, and can also be used as progression biomarkers of hemorrhoids.

Key words: Hemorrhoids, 　 Vascular endothelial growth factor, 　 Basic fibroblast growth factor