Concentration of cytokines in age-related macular degeneration after consecutive intravitreal bevacizumab injection.
BACKGROUND
To evaluate the changes in aqueous humor cytokine levels following consecutive intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech Inc., San Francisco, CA, USA) injections in eyes with choroidal neovascularization (CNV) due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).


METHODS
Aqueous humor samples were collected at the time of intravitreal injection of 1.25 mg of bevacizumab every 7.0 (+/-2.0) weeks from ten eyes with AMD for the AMD group and during cataract surgery in nine eyes for the control group. Visual acuity with Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letters and central macular thickness (CMT) using optical coherence tomography were measured before each injection in the AMD group. Aqueous cytokine levels were determined by immunoassay using multi-analyte biochip array technology (Evidence investigator cytokine and growth factor biochip array, RANDOX laboratories Ltd., Crumlin, UK).


RESULTS
In the AMD group, mean +/- standard deviation(SD) aqueous VEGF levels decreased from 68.0 +/- 32.1 pg/ml at baseline to 26.3 +/- 19.0 pg/ml after the first injection (p = 0.028) and to 25.2 +/- 12.8 pg/ml after the second injection (p = 0.005). While CMT decreased from 307.7 +/- 102.0 mum to 206.8 +/- 141.5 microm (p = 0.037), ETDRS visual acuity increased from 17.6 +/- 11.7 letters to 22.0 +/- 15.6 letters after three consecutive injections (p = 0.017).


CONCLUSIONS
Significantly decreased VEGF levels were noted after the first injection of bevacizumab. These levels were maintained after the second injection, which paralleled the change in visual acuity and CMT.
Roh
Mi In
MI
Department of Ophthalmology, The Institute of Vision Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 250 Seongsanno, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Korea.
Lim
Su Jin
SJ
Ahn
Ji Min
JM
Lim
Jong Baek
JB
Kwon
Oh Woong
OW
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; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D007267:Injections; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019233:Retreatment; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D014822:Vitreous Body
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D016207:Cytokines; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab