Pathogenesis of macular edema with branch retinal vein occlusion and intraocular levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and interleukin-6.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether correlations between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or interleukin-6 (IL-6) contribute to the pathogenesis of macular edema in eyes of patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).


METHODS
Retrospective case-control study.


METHODS
Nineteen patients with macular edema with BRVO and seven patients with non-ischemic ocular disease (control group) were studied. The degree of retinal ischemia was evaluated in terms of the area of capillary non-perfusion, and the severity of macular edema was examined by optical coherence tomography. Aqueous humor samples were obtained at the time of combined vitrectomy and cataract surgery, and VEGF and IL-6 levels in aqueous humor and plasma were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
Aqueous levels of VEGF (351 +/- 273 pg/ml) and IL-6 (7.10 +/- 6.51 pg/ml) were significantly elevated in patients with BRVO compared with the control patients (119 +/- 38.7 pg/ml and 2.27 +/- 1.11 pg/ml, respectively) (P = .0017 and P = .0052, respectively). Aqueous level of VEGF was significantly correlated with that of IL-6 (P = .0396), and aqueous levels of VEGF and IL-6 were correlated with the size of the BRVO non-perfused area (P < .0001 and P = .0331, respectively). Aqueous level of VEGF was correlated with the severity of macular edema (P = .0306).


CONCLUSIONS
VEGF and IL-6 may be involved in the pathogenesis of macular edema with BRVO. The increase in these cytokines might be used as a unique index of BRVO, through which we can determine the severity of the ischemic condition as being in a quiescent state or an exacerbation of macular edema.
Noma
Hidetaka
H
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan. noma@hiroshima-u.ac.jp
Funatsu
Hideharu
H
Yamasaki
Makiko
M
Tsukamoto
Hidetoshi
H
Mimura
Tatsuya
T
Sone
Takashi
T
Jian
Koji
K
Sakamoto
Ikuo
I
Nakano
Kensuke
K
Yamashita
Hidetoshi
H
Minamoto
Atsushi
A
Mishima
Hiromu K
HK
D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*; D014821:Vitrectomy; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000378:metabolism*
D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A