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Purpose: This study aimed to investigate whether vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or interleukin-6 (IL-6) influence macular oedema in patients with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO)., Methods: Sixteen consecutive patients with unilateral CRVO and macular oedema were studied, along with eight age- and sex-matched patients without ischaemic ocular disease. Retinal ischaemia was evaluated from capillary non-perfusion on fluorescein angiography. Macular oedema was examined by optical coherence tomography. Aqueous humour (AH) samples were obtained during combined pars plana vitrectomy and cataract surgery, and were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay., Results: Aqueous levels of VEGF and IL-6 were significantly elevated in patients compared with controls (p=0.0142 and p<0.0001, respectively). Aqueous levels of both molecules were significantly higher in patients with ischaemia than in those without ischaemia (p=0.0026 and p=0.0487, respectively). Furthermore, AH levels of VEGF and IL-6 were correlated with the severity of macular oedema (ρ=0.7265, p=0.0049, ρ=0.5324, and p=0.0392, respectively)., Conclusions:   Both VEGF and IL-6 were elevated in the AH of patients with macular oedema and ischaemic CRVO, suggesting that these molecules may be related to the increase in vascular permeability in such patients., (© 2009 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2009 Acta Ophthalmol.)

Purpose: Aqueous levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) are associated with the severity of macular edema in patients with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). We investigated whether aqueous and vitreous levels of these molecules were correlated in CRVO patients., Methods: Aqueous and vitreous samples were obtained during cataract surgery and vitreous surgery from 17 patients (17 eyes) with CRVO and macular edema. The levels of VEGF and IL-6 in aqueous humor, vitreous fluid, and plasma were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay., Results: The aqueous levels of VEGF and IL-6 were significantly correlated with the vitreous levels of these molecules (rho=0.8799, p=0.0004 and rho=0.8088, p=0.0012, respectively). Vitreous levels of VEGF and IL-6 were significantly higher in CRVO patients with retinal ischemia than in those without ischemia (p=0.0013 and p=0.0009, respectively), as were the aqueous levels of VEGF and IL-6 (p=0.0026, p=0.0120, respectively). Furthermore, both the aqueous and vitreous levels of VEGF and IL-6 were significantly correlated with the severity of macular edema (rho=0.7181, p=0.0041; rho=0.8260, p=0.0010; rho=0.5564, p=0.0260; and rho=0.6599, p=0.0039, respectively)., Conclusions: Our results suggest that aqueous levels of VEGF and IL-6 may reflect the vitreous levels of these molecules. Measurement of VEGF and IL-6 in the aqueous humor may be clinically useful to assess the severity of macular edema in patients with CRVO.

Objective: To investigate whether interleukin (IL)-6 or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) influences macular edema in patients with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO)., Design: Retrospective case-control study., Participants: Twenty-seven patients who had macular edema with CRVO and 16 patients with nonischemic ocular diseases (control group)., Methods: Retinal ischemia was evaluated by measuring the area of capillary nonperfusion using fluorescein angiography and the public domain Scion Image program, and macular edema was examined by optical coherence tomography. Vitreous fluid samples were obtained at pars plana vitrectomy. VEGF and IL-6 levels in vitreous fluid and plasma were determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits., Main Outcome Measures: Vitreous fluid levels of IL-6 and VEGF., Results: The vitreous fluid levels of VEGF (median: 435 pg/ml) and IL-6 (median: 51.2 pg/ml) were significantly higher in the patients with CRVO than in the control group (median: 62.4 pg/ml and 1.07 pg/ml, respectively; P = 0.0046 and P<0.0001, respectively). The vitreous fluid level of VEGF was significantly correlated with that of IL-6 (P = 0.0029). Vitreous fluid levels of both VEGF and IL-6 were significantly higher in patients with CRVO who had retinal ischemia than in those without ischemia (P<0.0001 and P = 0.0003, respectively). Vitreous fluid levels of VEGF and IL-6 were also significantly correlated with the severity of macular edema (P = 0.0014 and P = 0.0047, respectively)., Conclusions: Both IL-6 and VEGF were elevated in the vitreous fluid of patients with ischemic CRVO and macular edema. VEGF may increase vascular permeability in patients with macular edema and CRVO, whereas IL-6 may also contribute by acting together with or via VEGF., Financial Disclosure(s): The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Background: Cytokine levels are elevated in the ocular fluid of diabetic patients. It is unclear whether aqueous humor levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) are related to the vitreous fluid levels of these substances and to the progression of diabetic retinopathy., Methods: Aqueous humor and vitreous fluid samples were obtained during cataract and vitreous surgery from ten eyes of ten patients with diabetic macular edema and 26 eyes of 26 patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). The VEGF and IL-6 levels in aqueous humor, vitreous fluid, and plasma were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay., Results: VEGF and IL-6 levels in aqueous humor were significantly correlated with those in vitreous fluid (rho=0.793 and rho=0.737, respectively). VEGF levels in aqueous humor and vitreous fluid were significantly correlated with the corresponding IL-6 levels (rho=0.631 and rho=0.687, respectively). The aqueous and vitreous levels of VEGF were significantly correlated with the severity of diabetic retinopathy (rho=0.659 and rho=0.771, respectively). Aqueous and vitreous levels of IL-6 were also significantly correlated with the severity of diabetic retinopathy (rho=0.742 and rho=0.746, respectively). Aqueous and vitreous levels of both VEGF and IL-6 were significantly higher in the patients with active PDR than those in quiescent PDR., Conclusions: Our results suggest that there is a significant relationship between VEGF and IL-6 levels in aqueous humor and in vitreous fluid. Measurement of the aqueous levels of VEGF and IL-6 may be useful to analyze the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy and to predict disease activity.

Purpose: To investigate whether interleukin-6 (IL-6) or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is related to diabetic macular edema (DME) in subjects without posterior vitreous detachment (PVD)., Design: Retrospective case-control study., Participants: Twenty-six subjects who had DME without PVD and 12 subjects who had nondiabetic ocular disease (the control group)., Methods: Vitreous fluid samples were obtained at vitreoretinal surgery, and the IL-6 and VEGF levels in vitreous fluid and plasma were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay., Main Outcome Measures: Vitreous levels of IL-6 and VEGF in DME subjects without PVD., Results: The vitreous levels of both IL-6 and VEGF were significantly higher in the subjects with DME than in control subjects (P<0.0001 and P<0.0001, respectively). The vitreous level of IL-6 was significantly correlated with that of VEGF (P<0.0001). Vitreous levels of both IL-6 and VEGF were significantly higher in subjects with hyperfluorescent DME than in those with minimally fluorescent DME (P = 0.0008 and P = 0.0038, respectively)., Conclusions: We found that the levels of both IL-6 and VEGF were elevated in the vitreous fluid of subjects with hyperfluorescent DME. Our results suggest that IL-6 and VEGF may promote an increase of vascular permeability in DME subjects without PVD. Interleukin-6 may possibly induce an increase of vascular permeability through a paracrine effect on VEGF in these subjects.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between diabetic macular edema and the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in aqueous humor and plasma., Design: Comparative cross-sectional study., Methods: Fifty-four eyes from 54 diabetic patients were used. The concentrations of VEGF and IL-6 in undiluted aqueous specimens (obtained from the eyes during cataract surgery) and in plasma were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. To assess blood-aqueous barrier function, the aqueous flare intensity was measured by a laser flare-cell meter as an estimate of the aqueous protein level., Results: The aqueous levels of VEGF and IL-6 were significantly correlated with the severity of macular edema (rho = 0.628, P <.001 and rho = 0.517, P <.01, respectively), as well as with the aqueous protein concentration (rho = 0.618, P <.001 and rho = 0.588, P <.001, respectively). Aqueous levels of VEGF and IL-6 were significantly higher than their respective plasma levels (both P <.001). In addition, the aqueous level of VEGF was significantly correlated with that of IL-6 (rho = 0.537, P <.01). Furthermore, the status of the posterior vitreous significantly correlated with the severity of macular edema (rho = 0.618, P <.0001)., Conclusions: These results suggest that both VEGF and IL-6 are produced together in the intraocular tissues, and are involved in the pathogenesis of macular edema.

Purpose: To find a predictor in the pathogenesis of macular edema, we investigated ocular and systemic risk factors., Methods: One hundred and fifty-nine patients with mild diabetic retinopathy who showed one or more soft exudates were recruited. We selected the possible predictors on the basis of relevant factors, including concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor, interleukin-6 (IL-6), transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta(1), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and lipoprotein(a) in plasma, and serum level of von Willebrand factor and thrombomodulin., Results: Macular edema was not detected in 94 eyes; focal macular edema was detected in 46 eyes; diffuse macular edema was detected in 18 eyes; and cystoid macular edema was present in 1 eye. The plasma level of IL-6 concentration and the state of the posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) correlated significantly with the severity of macular edema (odds ratios = 3.68, 1.70, respectively). Other risk factors were not significantly associated with macular edema. We estimated the probability of macular edema according to the IL-6 level in plasma and the state of the PVD, and were able to predict the probability of macular edema., Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate that IL-6 concentration in plasma and the state of the PVD can be predictors of macular edema.

: PurposeTo ascertain whether the aqueous humor levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and protein can predict the postoperative exacerbation of macular edema in patients with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) after phacoemulsification surgery for cataract.: SettingDepartment of Ophthalmology, Diabetes Center, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.: MethodsThis prospective study included 104 consecutive patients (104 eyes) with NPDR who had cataract surgery. The concentrations of VEGF and IL-6 in aqueous humor specimens obtained during cataract surgery were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Patients were followed for 6 months to assess the postoperative exacerbation of macular edema.: ResultsNinety patients (87%) achieved a visual acuity of 20/40 or better. Exacerbation of macular edema was seen in 30 eyes (29%) after 6 months. Hypertension and the aqueous levels of VEGF, IL-6, and protein were significantly correlated with the exacerbation of macular edema (odds ratio 1.16, 1.33, 1.27, and 1.28, respectively). In contrast, there was no correlation between the exacerbation of macular edema and other systemic factors. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the aqueous VEGF level increase of 100 pg/mL increased the macular edema after phacoemulsification surgery (odds ratio 1.53).: ConclusionsA high VEGF level in the aqueous humor predicted a significant risk for the postoperative exacerbation of macular edema. A model was developed to predict the risk exacerbation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between diabetic macular edema and the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in aqueous humor and plasma.DESIGN: Comparative cross-sectional study.METHODS: Fifty-four eyes from 54 diabetic patients were used. The concentrations of VEGF and IL-6 in undiluted aqueous specimens (obtained from the eyes during cataract surgery) and in plasma were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. To assess blood-aqueous barrier function, the aqueous flare intensity was measured by a laser flare-cell meter as an estimate of the aqueous protein level.RESULTS: The aqueous levels of VEGF and IL-6 were significantly correlated with the severity of macular edema (ρ = 0.628, P < .001 and ρ = 0.517, P < .01, respectively), as well as with the aqueous protein concentration (ρ = 0.618, P < .001 and ρ = 0.588, P < .001, respectively). Aqueous levels of VEGF and IL-6 were significantly higher than their respective plasma levels (both P < .001). In addition, the aqueous level of VEGF was significantly correlated with that of IL-6 (ρ = 0.537, P < .01). Furthermore, the status of the posterior vitreous significantly correlated with the severity of macular edema (ρ = 0.618, P < .0001).CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that both VEGF and IL-6 are produced together in the intraocular tissues, and are involved in the pathogenesis of macular edema. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]