PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between diabetic macular edema and the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in aqueous humor and plasma. DESIGN: Comparative cross-sectional study. METHODS: Fifty-four eyes from 54 diabetic patients were used. The concentrations of VEGF and IL-6 in undiluted aqueous specimens (obtained from the eyes during cataract surgery) and in plasma were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. To assess blood-aqueous barrier function, the aqueous flare intensity was measured by a laser flare-cell meter as an estimate of the aqueous protein level. RESULTS: The aqueous levels of VEGF and IL-6 were significantly correlated with the severity of macular edema (rho = 0.628, P <.001 and rho = 0.517, P <.01, respectively), as well as with the aqueous protein concentration (rho = 0.618, P <.001 and rho = 0.588, P <.001, respectively). Aqueous levels of VEGF and IL-6 were significantly higher than their respective plasma levels (both P <.001). In addition, the aqueous level of VEGF was significantly correlated with that of IL-6 (rho = 0.537, P <.01). Furthermore, the status of the posterior vitreous significantly correlated with the severity of macular edema (rho = 0.618, P <.0001). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that both VEGF and IL-6 are produced together in the intraocular tissues, and are involved in the pathogenesis of macular edema.
PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between diabetic macular edema and the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in aqueous humor and plasma. DESIGN: Comparative cross-sectional study. METHODS: Fifty-four eyes from 54 diabeticpatients were used. The concentrations of VEGF and IL-6 in undiluted aqueous specimens (obtained from the eyes during cataract surgery) and in plasma were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. To assess blood-aqueous barrier function, the aqueous flare intensity was measured by a laser flare-cell meter as an estimate of the aqueous protein level. RESULTS: The aqueous levels of VEGF and IL-6 were significantly correlated with the severity of macular edema (rho = 0.628, P <.001 and rho = 0.517, P <.01, respectively), as well as with the aqueous protein concentration (rho = 0.618, P <.001 and rho = 0.588, P <.001, respectively). Aqueous levels of VEGF and IL-6 were significantly higher than their respective plasma levels (both P <.001). In addition, the aqueous level of VEGF was significantly correlated with that of IL-6 (rho = 0.537, P <.01). Furthermore, the status of the posterior vitreous significantly correlated with the severity of macular edema (rho = 0.618, P <.0001). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that both VEGF and IL-6 are produced together in the intraocular tissues, and are involved in the pathogenesis of macular edema.
Authors: M Elizabeth Hartnett; Nicholas Tinkham; Lauren Paynter; Pete Geisen; Pinchas Rosenberg; Gary Koch; Kenneth L Cohen Journal: Am J Ophthalmol Date: 2009-10-17 Impact factor: 5.258
Authors: Modesto Rojas; Wenbo Zhang; Dexter L Lee; Maritza J Romero; Doan T Nguyen; Mohamed Al-Shabrawey; Nai-Tse Tsai; Gregory I Liou; Michael W Brands; Robert W Caldwell; Ruth B Caldwell Journal: Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci Date: 2009-10-15 Impact factor: 4.799