title: Level of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in the Vitreous Fluid of Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy Patients and Prognosis after Vitrectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the intravitreal vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level and prognosis of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study involved 136 eyes of 114 PDR patients who underwent an initial vitrectomy between 2006 and 2008. Intravitreal VEGF levels were determined using Bio-Plex® (Bio-Rad), with levels of 5,000 pg/mL or more classified as high-VEGF (45 eyes) and levels lower than 5,000 pg/mL as low-VEGF (91 eyes). Diabetic control, PDR severity, and frequency of postoperative complications were compared between the groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in preoperative status between the groups. In the low-VEGF group, a reoperation was required due to postoperative complications in 2 eyes (2.2%); 1 with vitreous hemorrhage (VH) and 1 with retinal detachment (RD). In contrast, a reoperation was required in 8 eyes (17.8%) in the high-VEGF group; 3 with VH, 2 with RD, and 3 with neovascular glaucoma. The difference between the groups was significant. There was a statistically lower postoperative corrected visual acuity logMAR (6 months after surgery) in the high-VEGF than in the low-VEGF group (p = 0.02, unpaired t test).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Current findings indicate that careful observation is needed in patients with elevated VEGF levels.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan.
authors: Yukihiko
authors: Y
authors: Suzuki
authors: Kaori
authors: K
authors: Suzuki
authors: Takashi
authors: T
authors: Kudo
authors: Tomomi
authors: T
authors: Metoki
authors: Mitsuru
authors: M
authors: Nakazawa
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014821:Vitrectomy; D018630:Vitreoretinopathy, Proliferative / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A