Comparison of aqueous humor levels of PlGF and VEGF in proliferative diabetic retinopathy before and after intravitreal conbercept injection

Abstract

AimsThe aim of this paper is to observe the change of aqueous humor levels of placenta growth factor (PlGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) patients before and one week after intravitreal conbercept injection. MethodsA prospective case series study was conducted in 24 active PDR patients (24 eyes). All the patients had received 0.5 mg of intravitreal conbercept followed by vitrectomy one week later. The aqueous humor was collected before conbercept injection and at the beginning of vitrectomy. ResultsBefore conbercept injection, the aqueous humor median levels of VEGF-A, VEGF-B and PlGF were457.0pg/mL(IQRfrom392.9to860.6pg/mL), 43.6pg/mL(IQRfrom33.6to81.6pg/mL), 37.5pg/mL(IQRfrom25.0to53.6pg/mL), respectively. One week after conbercept injection, the aqueous humor levels of VEGF-A, VEGF-B and PiGF decreased significantly. The aqueous humor VEGF-A levels in PDR patients with fibrovascular membranes were lower than those without them. There was positive correlation between aqueous humor VEGF-B and PiGF levels (P = 0.007). No significant correlation was found between VEGF-A and PiGF levels. No ocular and systemic adverse events were observed. ConclusionsThe aqueous humor levels of PlGF was correlated with VEGF-B, and levels of VEGF-A, VEGF-B, and PlGF decreased after intravitreal conbercept injection in active PDR patients.