Elevated vitreous αB-crystallin in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and association with proliferative vitreoretinopathy and retinal detachment area.

Abstract

To investigate the relationship between αB-crystallin levels in the vitreous of patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) and correlate these levels with the presence of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) and to the extent of RRD. Prospective, cross-sectional study. Vitreous samples were collected from twenty-six patients with RRD at the surgical repair. PVR was evaluated using the Updated Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy Grade Classification system. RRD area was measured using ultra-widefield retinal photographs. The concentration of αB-crystallin in the vitreous was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. The average concentration of αB-crystallin was significantly higher in the PVR Grade B and C group (97.83 ± 69.47) than in the PVR (-) and Grade A group (39.43 ± 13.53ng/mL, P = 0.005). The level of αB-crystallin was also significantly higher in patients with large RD area (RD area > 1/4, 85.52 ± 66.07ng/mL) than in patients with small RD area (RD area ≤ 1/4, 39.20 ± 13.02ng/mL, P = 0.016). The level of αB-crystallin was significantly increased in the vitreous of RRD patients with high-grade PVR and large RD area. This finding suggests that αB-crystallin may function as an endogenous mediator in fibrotic processes in RRD patients.