title: Association of connective tissue growth factor with fibrosis in vitreoretinal disorders in the human eye.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the expression of the profibrotic connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in relation to severity of intraocular fibrosis and neovascularization in human vitreoretinal disorders for the identification of potential therapeutic targets to prevent fibrosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Concentrations of CTGF were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 119 vitreous samples from patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, epiretinal membrane, and macular hole. Clinical data, including degree of intraocular fibrosis and neovascularization, were collected using standardized forms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multifactorial analysis revealed that only CTGF levels correlated highly significantly with degree of fibrosis in the various vitreoretinal disorders studied (P<.001; R2= 47.7%). Likewise, variation in degree of fibrosis was best predicted by CTGF levels (P<.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The strong correlation between CTGF levels and degree of fibrosis in vitreoretinal disorders suggests that CTGF is an important factor in ocular fibrosis, similar to its role in pathologic fibrosis in other organs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Connective tissue growth factor may be a therapeutic target for prevention of sight-threatening vitreoretinal scarring in the eye.
authors.affiliation: Ocular Angiogenesis Group, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Esther J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Kuiper
authors.forename: Marc D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: de Smet
authors.forename: Jan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: van Meurs
authors.forename: H Stevie
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Michael W T
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Tanck
authors.forename: Noelynn
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.forename: Frans A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: van Nieuwenhoven
authors.forename: Roel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Goldschmeding
authors.forename: Reinier O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Schlingemann
mesh_terms: D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D019773:Epiretinal Membrane / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018630:Vitreoretinopathy, Proliferative / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: C526317:CCN2 protein, human; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor