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Purpose: Intravitreal somatostatin (SST) levels are decreased in patients with diabetic macular oedema. This deficit may be involved in the pathogenesis of this condition. The aim of the present study was to determine SST concentration in the vitreous fluid of patients with chronic uveitic macular oedema (CUMO) and quiescent intraocular inflammation.Methods: Plasma and vitreous fluid samples were obtained during vitrectomy from 11 eyes of patients with CUMO and from 42 eyes of control subjects (idiopathic epiretinal membrane, macular hole). SST concentration was measured by radioimmunoassay.Statistics: χ(2)-square test, Mann-Whitney U-test, Wilcoxon test, Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, and multivariant linear regression models.Results: Plasma SST concentrations were similar in uveitic patients and controls (28.25 pg/ml (21.3-31) vs 28.7 pg/ml (22-29.5); P=0.869). A higher vitreous concentration of proteins was found in uveitic patients (1.59±0.38 mg/ml vs 0.73±0.32 mg/ml, P<0.0001). Vitreous SST was markedly lower in uveitic patients, both in absolute terms and after adjusting for total intravitreous protein concentration (39.37 pg/ml (6.16-172) vs 486.73 pg/ml (4.7-1833), P<0.0001; 33.1 pg/mg (3.9-215.74) vs 629.75 pg/mg (6.91-2024), P<0.0001). No correlations were found between plasma and vitreous concentration of SST in either group (ρ=0.191, P=0.57 and ρ=0.49, P=0.66). There were no correlations between vitreous SST concentration and visual acuity or macular thickness in uveitic patients (ρ=0.302, P=0.31 and ρ=0.45, P=0.13).Conclusions: Intravitreous SST is decreased in patients with CUMO and quiescent intraocular inflammation. The deficit of SST may have a role in the pathogenesis of this condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveIn a recent study, we found high levels of erythropoietin (EPO) in patients with diabetic macular oedema (DME), suggesting a role of EPO in the pathogenesis of this condition. To investigate a possible relationship between EPO and other diseases causing macular oedema, we determined vitreous levels of this peptide in patients with macular oedema secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and compared them with levels in patients with DME and control patients.MethodsVitreous and serum samples were obtained from patients with macular oedema secondary to RVO, DME, epiretinal membrane, and macular hole (controls). EPO was measured by radioimmunoassay.ResultsNo differences were found in median vitreous EPO levels between patients with RVO and controls: RVO, 76 mU/ml (30–806) vs controls, 25 mU/ml (10–75) (P=0.105). Median EPO concentration was higher in DME patients than in patients with RVO or controls: DME, 430 mU/ml (41–3000) vs RVO, 76 mU/ml (30–806) (P<0.0001) vs controls, 25 mU/ml (10–75) (P<0.0001).ConclusionsEPO levels are not elevated in patients with macular oedema secondary to RVO. Patients with DME have high levels of EPO. These results suggest that EPO could be involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy, but not in macular oedema secondary to RVO.Eye (2009) 23, 1066–1071; doi:10.1038/eye.2008.230; published online 1 August 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction to the article "Vitreous levels of erythropoietin in patients with macular oedema secondary to retinal vein occlusions: a comparative study with diabetic macular oedema" is presented.