title: POSSIBLE MOLECULAR BASIS OF BEVACIZUMAB THERAPY FOR MACULAR EDEMA IN BRANCH RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate changes in the aqueous humor levels of 11 factors/cytokines (including vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] receptors, growth factors, and inflammatory factors) after intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (IVB), as well as the relationship between changes of these factors and improvement of macular edema in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion and macular edema.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 29 patients with branch retinal vein occlusion who received IVB twice for macular edema at monthly intervals, aqueous humor samples were obtained during IVB. Levels of VEGF, soluble VEGF receptor (sVEGFR)-1, sVEGFR-2, placental growth factor, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1, monocyte chemotactic protein 1, platelet-derived growth factor-AA, and interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-12 (p70), and IL-13 were measured by the suspension array method. Foveal thickness was examined by optical coherence tomography before and 1 month after IVB, and the improvement of macular edema was evaluated by calculating the percent change of foveal thickness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Aqueous humor levels of sVEGFR-1, VEGF, monocyte chemotactic protein 1, and IL-6 showed a significant decrease at 1 month after IVB compared with baseline (P = 0.013, P < 0.001, P = 0.047, and P = 0.019, respectively). There was a significant negative correlation between the change of sVEGFR-1 or platelet-derived growth factor-AA after IVB and the improvement of macular edema (P = 0.004 and P = 0.036, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that improvement of macular edema by IVB is related to inhibition of sVEGFR-1 and platelet-derived growth factor-AA, but not VEGF, in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion. Soluble VEGF receptor-1 and platelet-derived growth factor-AA might be useful indicators of the response of macular edema.
authors: *Department of Ophthalmology, Hachioji Medical Center, Tokyo Medical University, Hachiouji, Tokyo, Japan; and †Department of Ophthalmology, Medical Center East, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Hidetaka
authors: H
authors: Noma
authors: Tatsuya
authors: T
authors: Mimura
authors: Kanako
authors: K
authors: Yasuda
authors: Masahiko
authors: M
authors: Shimura
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000378:metabolism*; D000068258:Bevacizumab / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005584:Fovea Centralis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D016207:Cytokines; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab