Decreased levels of pigment epithelium-derived factor in eyes with neuroretinal dystrophic diseases.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the concentration of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) in the aqueous humor of eyes with neuroretinal dystrophy.


METHODS
Observational case series.


METHODS
Aqueous humor was obtained from patients during cataract surgery, and the PEDF concentration in the aqueous humor was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The primary diagnosis was cataract in 162 eyes; of these there were five eyes with retinitis pigmentosa, nine eyes with advanced glaucoma, and 148 eyes with cataract alone.


RESULTS
The mean levels of PEDF in eyes with retinitis pigmentosa (0.24 +/- 0.04 microg/ml, mean +/- SE, P =.0004) and advanced glaucoma (0.46 +/- 0.08 microg/ml, P =.003) were significantly lower than that in eyes with cataract alone (0.86 +/- 0.04 microg/ml).


CONCLUSIONS
The lower levels of PEDF in eyes with neuroretinal dystrophy may be related to the loss of the retinal ganglion cells or retinal pigment epithelium cells that synthesize PEDF.
Ogata
Nahoko
N
Department of Ophthalmology, Kansai Medical University, Moriguchi, Osaka, Japan. ogata@takii.kmu.ac.jp
Matsuoka
Masato
M
Imaizumi
Masahito
M
Arichi
Miwa
M
Matsumura
Miyo
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002386:Cataract / Q000378:metabolism; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012174:Retinitis Pigmentosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D015843:Serpins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099174:Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor
D005136:Eye Proteins; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D011506:Proteins; D015843:Serpins; D000099174:Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor