Pigment epithelium-derived factor is related to macular microcirculation in patients with macular edema and branch retinal vein occlusion.

To investigate the correlation between the perifoveal capillary blood flow velocity (BFV) and the vitreous level of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) and macular edema. In a retrospective interventional study of patients with BRVO and macular edema, undiluted vitreous specimens were obtained from 12 eyes of 12 patients. The level of PEDF was then measured in vitreous samples by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Before vitreous fluid sampling, perifoveal capillary BFV was measured by fluorescein angiography with a scanning laser ophthalmoscope and the tracing method. Subsequently, the relationship between perifoveal capillary BFV and the vitreous level of PEDF was investigated. There was a significant positive correlation between BFV and the vitreous level of PEDF in the 12 patients (ρ = 0.75, p = 0.013). The vitreous level of PEDF may influence macular microcirculation in patients with BRVO and macular edema.