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  • Effect of intravitreal ranibizumab injections on aqueous humour concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor and pigment epithelium-derived factor in patients with myopic choroidal neovascularisation

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Laboratory science
Effect of intravitreal ranibizumab injections on aqueous humour concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor and pigment epithelium-derived factor in patients with myopic choroidal neovascularisation
  1. Ciro Costagliola1,
  2. Francesco Semeraro2,
  3. Roberto dell'Omo1,
  4. Mario R Romano3,
  5. Andrea Russo2,
  6. Fabiana Aceto4,
  7. Rodolfo Mastropasqua5,
  8. Antonio Porcellini6
  1. 1Eye Clinic, Department of Health Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy
  2. 2Eye Clinic, Department of Neurological and Vision Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
  3. 3Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, “Federico II” University of Naples, Naples, Italy
  4. 4Department of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy
  5. 5Department of Ophthalmology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
  6. 6Department of Structural and Functional Biology, “Federico II” University of Naples, Naples, Italy
  1. Correspondence to Dr Andrea Russo, Eye Clinic, Department of Neurological and Vision Sciences University of Brescia, Piazzale Spedale Civili, 1, Brescia 25125, Italy; dott.andrea.russo{at}gmail.com

Abstract

Aims To investigate aqueous humour changes in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) levels in patients with choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) secondary to pathological myopia (mCNV) before and after intravitreal ranibizumab injection (IVR).

Methods This was a prospective, case–control study investigating aqueous levels of VEGF and PEDF in eyes with mCNV treated with IVR.

Results Mean VEGF and PEDF levels in the aqueous humour of control patients were 25.7±4.9 pg/mL and 12.6±3.5 ng/mL, respectively. Lower levels of both VEGF (19.5±5.4 pg/mL) and PEDF (4.7±2.2 ng/mL) were found in patients with mCNV before IVR. After IVR, aqueous VEGF levels significantly reduced to 6.5±2.7 pg/mL, while PEDF levels significantly increased to 35.8±11.4 ng/mL. VEGF and PEDF levels significantly correlated with each other, and with best-corrected visual acuity and central retinal thickness.

Conclusions The VEGF and PEDF levels in aqueous humour were significantly lower in the myopic group than in controls. Moreover, IVR resulted in reduced VEGF and increased PEDF levels in patients with mCNV. In mCNV, neovascularisation is associated with inappropriate VEGF and PEDF expression. A balance between VEGF and PEDF is crucial to prevent CNV development.

Trial registration number NCT02175940.

  • PEDF
  • choroidal neovascularization
  • pathologic myopia
  • ranibizumab

https://doi.org/10.1136/bjophthalmol-2014-306465

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