Correlations Between The VEGF Levels In Aqueous Humor And Amplitudes And Implicit Times Of Different Components Of Electroretinogram In Eyes With CRVO

Abstract

Purpose: : Neovascular glaucoma (NVG) is a vision-threatening complication of central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), and the ischemia caused by CRVOs leads to an increase in the level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The aim of this study was to determine whether significant correlations existed between the VEGF levels and the amplitudes and implicit times of different components of the electroretinogram (ERG).

Methods: : The medical records of the 20 consecutive patients who had macular edema secondary to CRVO were reviewed. All of the patients were scheduled to receive an intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (IVB) at the Nagoya University Hospital from November of 2008 to February of 2010. The correlations between the different components of the ERGs and the VEGF concentration in the aqueous humor collected just before the IVB were calculated.

Results: : The mean VEGF concentration of the aqueous humor was 416 pg/ml with a range of 100 to 1260 pg/ml. The b/a ratio of the single flash ERGs (P = 0.049; ρ = -0.45), implicit times of the cone a-wave (P = 0.028; ρ = 0.50), cone b-wave (P = 0.0059; ρ = 0.63), and 30 Hz flicker ERG (P = 0.0058; ρ = 0.63) were significantly correlated with the VEGF concentration in the aqueous.

Conclusions: : The correlations between the aqueous VEGF concentration and the implicit times of 30 Hz flicker ERGs, the cone a- and b-waves, and the b/a ratio of single flash ERG in CRVO patients indicate that full-field ERGs can be used to detect the CRVO patients at a high risk of developing NVG.

Keywords: vascular occlusion/vascular occlusive disease • vascular endothelial growth factor • electroretinography: clinical