Effect of intravitreal bevacizumab injection on aqueous humor cytokine levels in clinically significant macular edema.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech, Inc., San Francisco, CA) injection on aqueous humor cytokine levels in clinically significant macular edema (CSME).


METHODS
Retrospective, comparative study.


METHODS
Seventeen eyes undergoing intravitreal injection for CSME and 11 eyes undergoing cataract surgery as negative controls. Nine patients with CSME were naïve to intravitreal bevacizumab injection (CSME group 1), and 8 patients previously received 1 intravitreal bevacizumab injection at a mean of 9.6+/-1.4 weeks earlier (CSME group 2).


METHODS
Aqueous humor samples were collected before performing intravitreal injection in the CSME group and during cataract surgery in the control group. Aqueous cytokine levels were determined by immunoassay using multianalyte biochip array technology.


METHODS
The concentration of cytokines in the aqueous humor was recorded as a mean (+/- standard deviation) in CSME groups 1 and 2 and the control group. Correlations of aqueous humor cytokine levels were evaluated.


RESULTS
Significantly higher levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 were noted in patients with CSME compared with controls. Although higher vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels were noted in CSME group 1 (P = 0.001), a lower level of VEGF was noted after intravitreal bevacizumab injection in CSME group 2 (P = 0.004) compared with the control group. VEGF levels were also lower in CSME group 2 compared with CSME group 1 (P = 0.001). In CSME group 2, a significant negative correlation was observed between VEGF and IL-6 (rho = -0.833, P = 0.01) and VEGF and MCP-1 (rho = -0.736, P = 0.037).


CONCLUSIONS
Significantly higher levels of IL-6, IL-8, VEGF, and MCP-1 were noted in the aqueous humor of CSME. However, recurrence of macular edema was noted with significantly lower concentrations of VEGF after a single intravitreal injection of bevacizumab. This suggests the potential importance of IL-6 and MCP-1 in the pathogenesis of CSME.


BACKGROUND
The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.
Roh
Mi In
MI
The Institute of Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
Hong Suk
HS
Song
Ji Hun
JH
Lim
Jong Baek
JB
Kwon
Oh Woong
OW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000378:metabolism*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D040081:Protein Array Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D014822:Vitreous Body
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; C111835:CCL2 protein, human; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D016207:Cytokines; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab