Purpose
This study aimed to investigate the levels of aqueous humor cytokines in the eyes of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) patients who received an intravitreal injection of bevacizumab and to evaluate the differences in cytokine levels between bevacizumab responders and nonresponders.
Methods
Aqueous humor samples were collected from 39 eyes of 39 patients with CSC and 25 eyes of 25 control patients undergoing cataract surgery and were analyzed using Multiplex bead assays.
Results
The aqueous levels of interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 were lower (P = 0.039, P = 0.000, and P = 0.018, respectively) and the concentration of interferon gamma-induced protein-10 was higher in CSC patients than in controls (P = 0.040). The levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet-derived growth factor were not significantly different between the groups. The levels of VEGF and interleukin-8 were higher in bevacizumab responders than in nonresponders (P = 0.031 and P = 0.027, respectively), whereas the concentration of interleukin-6 was lower in responders (P = 0.037).
Conclusions
The roles of various cytokines in the pathogenesis of CSC are unclear. Our results suggest that CSC patients may have a different susceptibility to VEGF and/or other cytokines compared to normal population.
Keywords: 490 cytokines/chemokines