title: Effect of pan retinal photocoagulation on the serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor in diabetic patients.
abstract: This study tests the hypothesis that subjects with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) have a detectable rise in levels of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which is an important regulator of angiogenesis. Our investigation aims to evaluate plasma VEGF changes after pan-retinal photocoagulation (PRP) in diabetic patients. Twenty-nine type two diabetic patients (17 male, 12 female: mean age 53.13±12.22 years) with PDR secondary to diabetes were studied. Blood samples were obtained before and at 2 months after the last PRP session. Serum VEGF levels were measured by ELISA. After PRP, the mean serum VEGF decreased, but this reduction was not remarkable (88.68±71.09 vs. 77.01±60.33 ng/ml) (P=0.18). There was a statistically significant difference in serum VEGF changes between patients who had regressed PDR with patients who had progressed PDR (-25.98±47.37 vs. 56.44±31.7 ng/ml) (P=0.003). Our results showed a significant reduction in levels of serum VEGF in the patients who had successful laser treatment. Our findings suggest that serum VEGF levels could be used for monitoring diabetic retinopathy outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Shahid Sadougdi University of Medical Science, Yazd Diabetes Research Center, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Masoud Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Manaviat
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rashidi
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Afkhami-Ardekani
authors.forename: Javad
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mohiti-Ardekani
authors.forename: MariaEsther
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bandala-Sanchez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D008028:Light Coagulation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*; D014792:Visual Acuity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A