Cytokines in the Vitreous Fluid of Patients with Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy: Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Platelet-derived Growth Factor Are Elevated in Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

Abstract

To determine the relation between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platlet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in the vitreous fluids from patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Concentrations of VEGF and PDGF in the vitreous fluids from 53 eyes, 31 eyes in 30 PDR patients and 22 eyes in 22 non diabetes mellitus(DM) patients serving as controls, were measured by enzyme-linked immunosolvent assay. The levels of VEGF and PDGF were compared between PDR and non DM patients. The relationship between these factors and clinical characteristics such as age, sex, protein concentration in the aqueous humor, HbA1c and duration of diabetes were investigated. Levels of both VEGF and PDGF in the PDR group were significantly higher than in non DM group (p < 0.01). A positive correlation was observed between the levels of VEGF and protein concentration in the aqueous humor (p < 0.01). However, levels of both VEGF and PDGF did not correlate with age, sex, or HbA1c. Both VEGF and PDGF were shown to be correlated with the pathogenesis of PDR.