Elevated vascular endothelial growth factor levels in the vitreous of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
OBJECTIVE
To detect the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the vitreous of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and to investigate the possible role of VEGF in the development of neovascularization in PDR.


METHODS
Undiluted vitreous samples and fasting venous blood samples were obtained from 27 patients with PDR and 14 subjects with idiopathic macular hole who underwent pars plana vitrectomy. The concentration of VEGF was determined by quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).


RESULTS
The level of vitreous VEGF in patients with PDR (median 0.41 ng/ml, range 0.09-11.56 ng/ml) was significantly elevated when compared with that in control subjects (median 0.017 ng/ml, range 0.008-0.04 ng/ml) (P < 0.001). The median of PDR patients' serum VEGF concentration was 0.19 ng/ml (0.090.46 ng/ml) which was far lower than vitreous VEGF concentration (P < 0.05). Vitreous VEGF concentration was higher in PDR patients with retinal detachment than that in patient without retinal detachment (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Vitreous levels of VEGF were remarkably elevated in eyes with PDR, and they were not influenced by its serum concentrations. VEGF played an important role in neovascularization of PDR.
Deng
J
J
Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510060, China.
Wu
D Z
DZ
Gao
R
R
D000328:Adult; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000378:metabolism*; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000032:analysis*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000378:metabolism; D015861:Retinal Neovascularization; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000378:metabolism*; D014821:Vitrectomy; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000378:metabolism*
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors