Study of aqueous cytokines in patients with different patterns of diabetic macular edema based on optical coherence tomography.
OBJECTIVE
To compare aqueous angiogenic and inflammatory cytokine concentrations in different patterns of diabetic macular edema (DME) based on optical coherence tomography (OCT).


METHODS
This prospective study was conducted between July 1, 2015, and March 31, 2016, for 9 months. Aqueous samples were obtained from 52 consecutive DME patients and 16 controls. DME patients were divided according to OCT patterns into diffuse retinal thickening (DRT; n = 17), cystoid macular edema (CME; n = 20) and serous retinal detachment (SRD; n = 15) groups. Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels were measured by RayBio(R)Human ELISA Kit.


RESULTS
IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF levels differed significantly between three DME groups (p < 0.001 in all cases), but the differences in TNF-α levels were not significant (p = 0.226). VEGF and IL-6 levels correlated with central foveal thickness in DRT and SRD groups, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Aqueous cytokine levels vary with different morphological patterns of DME though the role of TNF-α needs to be studied further, and both anti-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory agents are required simultaneously for treatment of DME.
Department of Ophthalmology, R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, 1, Kshudiram Bose Sarani, Kolkata, 700004, India. sabyasachi.bandyopadhyay@yahoo.com.
Sabyasachi
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4617-7832
S
Bandyopadhyay
Department of Ophthalmology, NRS Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, 700014, India.
Samir Kumar
SK
Bandyopadhyay
Department of Ophthalmology, R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, 1, Kshudiram Bose Sarani, Kolkata, 700004, India.
Mita
M
Saha
Department of Community Medicine, R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, 1, Kshudiram Bose Sarani, Kolkata, 700004, India.
Abhik
A
Sinha
D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005584:Fovea Centralis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism; D014792:Visual Acuity
D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
Central foveal thickness; Cytokine; Diabetic macular edema; Optical coherence tomography