Elevated erythropoietin and vascular endothelial growth factor levels in an adolescent with retinal neovascularization from a chronic rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the role of erythropoietin and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in a patient with retinal neovascularization from a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment of long duration.


METHODS
Fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, and vitreous analysis were performed. The vitreous concentrations of erythropoietin and VEGF were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and compared with control levels.


RESULTS
An adolescent with a history of mild retinopathy of prematurity presented with a retinal detachment found by routine examination. The patient had a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with signs of chronicity and extensive retinal neovascularization. The patient's erythropoietin level was higher than those of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The patient's VEGF level was not as high as those of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy but was elevated compared with those of patients without neovascularization.


CONCLUSIONS
Vitreous concentrations of erythropoietin and VEGF can be elevated in patients with neovascularization secondary to a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment of long duration.
From the *Department of Ophthalmology, the †Retina Service, and the ‡Angiogenesis Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Ben J
BJ
Kim
Nadia K
NK
Waheed
Mario
M
Romano
Fabrizio
F
Scotti
Ali
A
Hafezi-Moghadam
Donald J
DJ
D'Amico