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Br J Ophthalmol 1999;83:834-837 doi:10.1136/bjo.83.7.834
  • Original Article
    • Laboratory science

Comparison of the levels of hepatocyte growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor in aqueous fluid and serum with grades of retinopathy in patients with diabetes mellitus

  1. Kei Shinodaa,
  2. Susumu Ishidaa,
  3. Shinichi Kawashimaa,
  4. Toshiko Wakabayashia,
  5. Tadayuki Matsuzakia,
  6. Michiyo Takayamab,
  7. Ken Shinmurab,
  8. Masakazu Yamadaa
  1. aDepartment of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan, bDepartment of Geriatric Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
  1. Kei Shinoda, MD, Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35, Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160–8582, Japan.
  • Accepted 6 April 1999

Abstract

AIMS To determine the relation between the stages of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and the levels of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in aqueous fluid and serum.

METHODS Levels of HGF and VEGF in serum and aqueous humour obtained during ocular surgery were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay in 58 diabetic patients with 32 non-diabetic patients (NDM) as controls. The patients with diabetes were classified into three groups according to the stage of DR: no DR (NDR; 15 cases), non-proliferative DR (NPDR; six cases), and proliferative DR (PDR; 37 cases).

RESULTS No significant differences were found between any of the groups in serum concentrations of HGF or VEGF. The aqueous HGF levels increased with the stage of DR: NDM, median 397 pg/ml, range 133–930 pg/ml; NDR, 371 pg/ml, 142–1536 pg/ml; NPDR, 455 pg/ml, 162–1007 pg/ml; and PDR, 638 pg/ml, 187–2222 pg/ml. The aqueous VEGF levels in PDR (median 212 pg/ml, range 14–1216 pg/ml) were significantly higher than in NDM (105 pg/ml, 9–203 pg/ml), but aqueous HGF concentrations were unrelated to those of VEGF.

CONCLUSION The results of the present study suggest that both HGF and VEGF present in the ocular tissues may play important roles in the progression of DR.

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