Aqueous humor levels of vasoactive molecules correlate with vitreous levels and macular edema in central retinal vein occlusion.
OBJECTIVE
Aqueous levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) are associated with the severity of macular edema in patients with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). We investigated whether aqueous and vitreous levels of these molecules were correlated in CRVO patients.


METHODS
Aqueous and vitreous samples were obtained during cataract surgery and vitreous surgery from 17 patients (17 eyes) with CRVO and macular edema. The levels of VEGF and IL-6 in aqueous humor, vitreous fluid, and plasma were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
The aqueous levels of VEGF and IL-6 were significantly correlated with the vitreous levels of these molecules (rho=0.8799, p=0.0004 and rho=0.8088, p=0.0012, respectively). Vitreous levels of VEGF and IL-6 were significantly higher in CRVO patients with retinal ischemia than in those without ischemia (p=0.0013 and p=0.0009, respectively), as were the aqueous levels of VEGF and IL-6 (p=0.0026, p=0.0120, respectively). Furthermore, both the aqueous and vitreous levels of VEGF and IL-6 were significantly correlated with the severity of macular edema (rho=0.7181, p=0.0041; rho=0.8260, p=0.0010; rho=0.5564, p=0.0260; and rho=0.6599, p=0.0039, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that aqueous levels of VEGF and IL-6 may reflect the vitreous levels of these molecules. Measurement of VEGF and IL-6 in the aqueous humor may be clinically useful to assess the severity of macular edema in patients with CRVO.
Noma
Hidetaka
H
Department of Ophthalmology, Yachiyo Medical Center, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Chiba, Japan. nomahide@tymc.twmu.ac.jp
Funatsu
Hideharu
H
Mimura
Tatsuya
T
Harino
Seiyo
S
Hori
Sadao
S
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000378:metabolism*
D015850:Interleukin-6; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A