CLINICAL RELEVANCE OF AQUEOUS VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR LEVELS IN POLYPOIDAL CHOROIDAL VASCULOPATHY.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level according to the clinical and imaging features, and to explore its relationship with the responsiveness to anti-VEGF treatment in eyes with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.


METHODS
Aqueous samples were collected from 62 eyes of 62 patients with treatment-naïve polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy. Vascular endothelial growth factor levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Baseline best-corrected visual acuity, central macular thickness, subfoveal choroidal thickness, greatest linear dimension of the lesion, and the presence of hemorrhage were included in the analysis. The effects of 3 monthly intravitreal ranibizumab injections on best-corrected visual acuity and central macular thickness were assessed.


RESULTS
Baseline VEGF level was negatively correlated with subfoveal choroidal thickness (r = -0.33, P = 0.01). Other variables had no correlation with VEGF level. The mean change in central macular thickness after anti-VEGF treatment was -51 ± 64 μm, which is positively correlated with VEGF concentration (r = 0.30, P = 0.04) and negatively correlated with subfoveal choroidal thickness (r = -0.35, P = 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Vascular endothelial growth factor level demonstrated a negative correlation with baseline subfoveal choroidal thickness and was associated with response to anti-VEGF treatment. These findings suggest that VEGF has a variable contribution to the pathogenesis of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy depending on choroid thickness.
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Jiwon
J
Baek
Jae Hyung
JH
Lee
Won Ki
WK
Lee
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002829:Choroid / Q000473:pathology; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000069579:Ranibizumab / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*; D014792:Visual Acuity
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000069579:Ranibizumab