Intraocular and serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor in acute retinal necrosis and ocular toxoplasmosis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the intraocular and serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in patients with acute retinal necrosis (ARN) and compare those with VEGF levels found in patients with ocular toxoplasmosis (OT).


METHODS
Paired intraocular fluid and serum samples of 17 patients with ARN and of 16 patients with OT were analyzed by ELISA for VEGF levels, and the clinical records were reviewed.


RESULTS
The mean intraocular VEGF levels in patients with ARN were higher than in patients with OT (P = 0.005), whereas the serum levels did not differ. Intraocular VEGF levels exceeded the serum levels in 8 of 17 patients (47%) with ARN compared with 1 of 16 patients (6%) with OT (P = 0.009). The group with high intraocular VEGF was associated with a more extensive retinitis and lower visual acuity at 3-month follow-up (P < 0.001 and P = 0.031, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Intraocular VEGF levels were elevated in patients with ARN compared with OT patients. Our results suggest strong intraocular VEGF production in ARN, which might be of importance for the treatment of these patients.
Wiertz
Karin
K
Department of Ophthalmology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. k.wiertz@umcutrecht.nl
De Visser
Lenneke
L
Rijkers
Ger
G
De Groot-Mijnes
Jolanda
J
Los
Leonie
L
Rothova
Aniki
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015882:Retinal Necrosis Syndrome, Acute / Q000097:blood*; D014126:Toxoplasmosis, Ocular / Q000097:blood*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*; D014792:Visual Acuity; D055815:Young Adult
C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A