Aqueous humor levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and pigment epithelium-derived factor in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy and choroidal neovascularization.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the aqueous levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) in patients with active polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) and choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and pathologic myopia.


METHODS
Prospective, comparative control study.


METHODS
Aqueous humors were collected from 32 eyes of 32 patients for either active PCV or CNV. Among them, 11 eyes had active and symptomatic PCV, 12 eyes had active CNV secondary to AMD, and nine eyes had active CNV of pathologic myopia. Levels of VEGF and PEDF were determined by commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. A group of 10 aqueous samples from 10 patients who underwent cataract surgery without other ocular or systemic diseases comprised the controls.


RESULTS
VEGF concentrations in aqueous humor were markedly increased in patients with PCV, CNV of AMD, and CNV of myopia when compared with the controls (analysis of variance [ANOVA], P < .001). VEGF levels in eyes with PCV were, however, significantly lower than those of exudative AMD (P = .045). The PEDF levels were also significantly different among the groups (ANOVA, P = .001), and we observed increased levels in PCV, CNV of AMD, and CNV of myopia.


CONCLUSIONS
VEGF and PEDF factors were coexpressed and increased with positive correlation in aqueous humor of eyes with active PCV. The different levels of both factors in eyes of PCV and AMD might suggest distinct clinical entities or different angiogenesis courses between PCV and AMD.
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Eye Hospital, 147K Argyle Street, Kowloon, Hong Kong, PRC.
Jian-Ping
JP
Tong
Wai-Man
WM
Chan
David T L
DT
Liu
Timothy Y Y
TY
Lai
Kwong-Wai
KW
Choy
Chi-Pui
CP
Pang
Dennis S C
DS
Lam
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D002829:Choroid / Q000098:blood supply*; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D047728:Myopia, Degenerative / Q000378:metabolism; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015843:Serpins / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099174:Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor
D005136:Eye Proteins; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D015843:Serpins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000099174:Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor; C467484:VEGFA protein, human