Abstract
Purpose:
To evaluate the levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in tears of patients with diabetes mellitus, and to investigate the changes of MMPs levels at perioperative periods and the relationship with corneal epithelial disorder following vitrectomy.
Methods:
The levels of MMPs in tears were measured in the patients with or without diabetes who were scheduled for vitrectomy. Twenty-two patients with diabetes had proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and 20 patients with epiretinal membrane or macular hole for control group were recruited. The changes of MMPs levels at perioperative periods and the relationship with corneal epithelial disorder after vitrectomy were analyzed.
Results:
The mean levels of tear MMPs in the patients with diabetes before vitrectomy were 6.09 ng/ml, 4.13 ng/ml, and 25.75 ng/ml of MMP-2, MMP-9, and MMP-10, respectively. The levels of MMP-2, -9, and -10 at 1 day after surgery in diabetic group were significant higher than control group (MMP-2, P = 0.008; MMP-9, P = 0.04; MMP-10, P = 0.003). At 1 week after surgery, the level of MMP-10 in diabetic group was significant higher than control group (P = 0.004). After vitrectomy, corneal epithelial disorder occurred with 6 patients with diabetic group, while corneal epithelial disorder did not occur in the control group. Among diabetic group, the MMP-10 level in tears of patients with corneal epithelial disorder was significantly higher than that of patients without corneal epithelial disorder (P = 0.04).
Conclusions:
The MMPs concentrations in tears of patients with diabetes were higher than that of non-diabetic patients after vitrectomy. High MMP-10 levels in tears were observed in patients of diabetes with corneal epithelial disorder after vitrectomy. Aberrant level of MMP-10 in tears was suggested to cause corneal epithelial disorder after vitrectomy.