[A comparative study of vascular endothelial growth factor levels in the vitreous of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy].
OBJECTIVE
To detect and compare the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the vitreous of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and to investigate the role of VEGF in the pathogenesis of PDR.


METHODS
Undiluted vitreous samples of 7 normal subjects and 19 patients with PDR were obtained in different ways, and VEGF levels in the vitreous were detected by using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for quantitative analysis.


RESULTS
In the normal group (n = 7), the mean value of VEGF in the vitreous was 0.35 ng/ml (range 0.18-0.60 ng/ ml) in comparison with that of 5.66 ng/ml in the PDR group (n = 19; range 0.84-15.64 ng/ml), there was a significant difference between the two groups statistically (P < 0.05, Primer t test). In the comparison between male (n = 12; range 0.84-15.64 ng/ml) and female PDR group (n = 7; range 1.34-12.34 ng/ml), as their mean values of VEGF in the vitreous were 4.83 ng/ml and 7.08 ng/ml respectively, there was no significant difference between the two groups statistically (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The VEGF levels in the vitreous of patients with PDR were elevated, and as a neovascular growth factor, VEGF may play a role in the pathogenesis of PDR.
Zhou
H
H
Department of Ophthalmology, 3rd School of Clinical Medicine, Beijing Medical University.
Zhang
H
H
D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000378:metabolism*; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000378:metabolism*
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors