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Risk evaluation of outcome of vitreous surgery for proliferative diabetic retinopathy based on vitreous level of vascular endothelial growth factor and angiotensin II

¹ Department of Ophthalmology, Diabetes Center, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Japan
² Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Japan
³ Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Hiroshima University School of Medicine, Japan
⁴ Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo University School of Medicine, Japan
⁵ Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Japan

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
H Funatsu MD
Department of Ophthalmology, Diabetes Center, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, 8-1 Kawada-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan; tfunatsu{at}nifty.com

Aims: To ascertain whether measurement of the vitreous fluid levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or angiotensin II (Ang II) could predict the outcome of vitreous surgery in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).

Methods: A prospective observational case study was performed in 61 consecutive patients (61 eyes) with PDR who underwent vitreoretinal surgery. Vitreous fluid samples were obtained during surgery. The VEGF level in vitreous fluid and plasma was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, while the Ang II level was measured by radioimmunoassay. Patients were prospectively followed for 6 months and the postoperative outcome was analysed by logistic regression analysis.

Results: No improvement and/or progression of PDR was seen in 15 (25%) of the 61 eyes. Vitreous levels of VEGF and Ang II were significantly higher in eyes with progression of PDR than in eyes with regression of PDR (p = 0.0044, and p = 0.0178, respectively). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the vitreous VEGF level increased along with the progression of PDR after vitreous surgery (odds ratio 2.48, p = 0.0008).

Conclusion: A high vitreous fluid VEGF level is associated with a significant risk of postoperative progression of PDR. The vitreous level of VEGF at the time of surgery may be a useful predictor of the outcome.

Abbreviations: ACE, angiotensin converting enzyme; Ang II, angiotensin II; CV, coefficient of variation; ELISA, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; FPE, fibrous proliferation elsewhere; NVD, new vessels on or within 1 disc diameter of the disc; NVE, new vessels elsewhere; PDR, proliferative diabetic retinopathy; RIA, radioimmunoassay; TRD, tractional retinal detachment; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor

Keywords: proliferative diabetic retinopathy; vitreous surgery; risk factor; vascular endothelial growth factor