Abstract
Purpose: :
To study the level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the aqueous humor of eyes with myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV).
Methods: :
Aqueous humor samples were obtained from 21 eyes of 21 patients with mCNV before intravitreal injection of bevacizumab. Aqueous humor samples also were obtained just before cataract surgery in 13 patients with cataract without other ocular or systemic diseases (control group). The VEGF concentration in the aqueous humor was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results: :
The VEGF concentrations in the aqueous humor of eyes with mCNV ranged from less than 20 to 200 pg/mL (median, 35 pg/mL). The concentrations in the control group ranged from 76 to 218 pg/mL (median, 148 pg/mL). The VEGF concentration in the aqueous humor was significantly lower in patients with mCNV than that in the control group (t- test, P < 0.001).
Conclusions: :
In patients with mCNV, the VEGF concentration in the aqueous humor is lower than in the control group. VEGF might localize in or around the CNV in eyes with mCNV.
Keywords: vascular endothelial growth factor • aqueous • myopia