Vitreous levels of VEGF, IL-8 and TNF-α in diabetic retinopathy

Introduction and Aim: DR (diabetic retinopathy) is a frequent microvascular complication which is leading to sudden and severe loss in visual acuity in DM (diabetes mellitus) patients. Our aim in this thesis is to compare the vitreous sample levels of VEGF, IL-8 and TNF- ? which was taken during pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in DR group and control group patients.Material and Method: In T.C Istanbul Bilim University Ophthalmology department as a study group 57 eyes of 57 DM patients who had been diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy and as a control group 22 cases of macular hole which is a proliferative vitreoretinopathy group were included in the study. 20 gauge PPV operation was applied to all patients. 0.5cc of vitreous samples were collected before opening vitrectomy infusion at the start of operation without being diluted. with 0.5 cc vitrektör was aspirated. Samples were transferred to the freezer at -70 oC. Results of IL-8, TNF? and for VEGF were calculated as pg / ml.Results: The vitreous concentrations of VEGF (1181,1679 ± 1230,43140 pg/ml [76.65? 6982.29]) were significantly elevated in the samples from patients with DR when compared with the samples from control patients (3,8673 ± 5,00354 pg/ml [0,07?16,44]) (P<0,001) Vitreous concentrations of IL-8 (82,7891 ± 74,08700 pg/ml [0,08?307,09]) and TNF-? (18,0007 ± 13,90015pg/ml [2,32 ?51,11]) were also significantly elevated in the macular edema patients when compared with control patients IL-8 level (2,9805 ± 3,77546 pg/ml [0.08?18.53]) and TNF-? level (1,7005 ± 1,26949 pg/ml [0,1?5,17]) (P <0,001).Conclusions: As a result, in the light of our findings as an inflammatory and angiogenic mediators IL-8, and as an intercellular permeability and cell proliferation mediators VEGF are may be associated with progression of DR to PDR. As past studies strongly indicate that TNF- ? plays a role in retinal neovascularization this thesis also showed that TNF- ? may play a role in the development of PDR.