Ocular Findings After Cardiac VEGF Injection

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: To determine if ocular findings occur with the injection of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) during cardiac procedures for cardiac revascularization in humans. Methods: Data was collected from three masked cardiac studies that utilized VEGF for cardiac revascularizarion. Study one used direct myocardial injection of 4 different concentrations of VEGF165 during cornonary bypass surgery. In study two varying doses of VEGF165 were injected into myocardial tissue during cardiac catheterization. In study three, patients were randomized to medical treatment or VEGF121 delivered through minimally invasive surgery. Complete ophthalmic examinations and fundus photographs were obtained at baseline and follow-up in all studies. Results: Thirty two patients received VEGF isoforms in the 3 studies. Fourteen patinets were in study one, 12 were in study two and 6 patients were in study three. Study 3 also had 6 control patients undergoing maximal medical therapy. No patient in all studies had ocular vascular abnormalities prior enrollment. No changes in the retina or choroid were noted in all patients on their follow-up examination. Conclusions: The use of various concentrations of VEGF165 and other isoforms, including VEGF121 for cardiac recvascularization, did not show any changes in the vascular structures in the human eye.

Keywords: retina