Abstract
Purpose :
To detect overexpression of inflammatory factors levels related in previous research with the development of keratoconus, after performing penetrating keratoplasty (PK) compared with preoperative levels
Methods :
A comparative and prospective study was carried out, obtaining proper informed consent from patients with grade four keratoconus in Amsler-Krumeich classification who underwent penetrating keratoplasty while being in treatment with topical prednisolone sodium phosphate.
Nontraumatic collection was made after instillation of two sterile saline solution drops, before topical steroidal treatment, with capillary tubes, from the inferior meniscus, without topical anesthesia, on the day of surgery, one week, one month and 2 months of follow up. The collected tear samples (overall 36) were frozen without centrifugation within 15 minutes and stored at -80°C until measurement. Protein amount was quantified with nanodrop and adjust to 100 μg per membrane. Quantification of Interleukin-1α (IL-1α), IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL 13, IL-17, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) and others levels were performed using a Proteome Profiler Human XL Cytokine Array Kit® following the manufacter’s instructions. Results were visualized with G-box imaging system, and analyzed the density of each point with the Vision Works LS software. Data were normalized with negative and positive controls in membrane. We considered as a biological significance more than 2-fold change (fc)
Results :
Nine patients were included. Significant decrease of IL-1α (5-fc), IL-1β (8-fc), IL-4 (7-fc), IL-6 (6-fc), IL-8 (7-fc), IL 13 (7-fc), IL-17 (5-fc), TNF-α (7-fc), MMP-9 (5-fc), VEGF (6-fc) and EGF (4-fc) were observed one-month after PK. Values from all inflammatory factors analized at 1 week and two months after PK, did not show biological significant change compared with basal values.
Conclusions :
There is a biological significant decrease of inflammatory factors previously bound with the development of keratoconus, one month after PK, probably related to the topical anti-inflammatory therapy given postoperatively. Two months after performing PK, values returned to basal leves, still with topical steroidal treatment.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.