Abstract
Purpose :
To investigate the relation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), as well as other growth factors, soluble VEGF receptors (sVEGFRs), and inflammatory factors, to recurrence of macular edema after anti-VEGF therapy in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).
Methods :
This study investigated 17 patients with BRVO who received intravitreal ranibizumab injection (IRI) 3 times within 6 months due to recurrence of macular edema. Aqueous humor samples were obtained from these patients at each recurrence. The levels of sVEGFR-1, sVEGFR-2, VEGF, plancental growth factor (PlGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-AA, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM)-1, monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-12(p70), and IL-13 were measured by the suspension array method. Aqueous flare values were measured with a laser flare meter and central macular thickness (CMT) was examined by optical coherence tomography.
Results :
The mean BCVA and CMT improved significantly over time after IRI (P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively), but there was no significant change of the aqueous flare value at recurrence after IRI compared with baseline. Aqueous humor levels of sVEGFR-1, sVEGFR-2, VEGF, PDGF-AA, MCP-1, and IL-8 decreased significantly over time after IRI (P<0.001, P=0.007, P<0.001, P=0.036, P=0.007, and P<0.001, respectively). In contrast, there were no significant changes of the other 5 factors/cytokines (PlGF, sICAM-1, IL-6, IL-12, and IL-13) at recurrence after IRI compared with baseline.
Conclusions :
These findings suggest that persistent inflammation may promote the recurrence of macular edema in BRVO patients, and that adding steroid therapy might be an effective strategy for preventing recurrence.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.