AUTHOR=Liang Youling , Yan Bin , Meng Zhishang , Xie Manyun , Liang Zhou , Zhu Ziyi , Meng Yongan , Ma Jiayue , Ma Bosheng , Yao Xiaoxi , Luo Jing 

TITLE=Comparison of Inflammatory and Angiogenic Factors in the Aqueous Humor of Vitrectomized and Non-Vitrectomized Eyes in Diabetic Macular Edema Patients

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2021.699254

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2021.699254

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objectives:</bold> To compare the aqueous concentrations of inflammatory and angiogenetic factors in vitrectomized vs. non-vitrectomized eyes with diabetic macular edema (DME).</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> Aqueous samples were obtained from 107 eyes with DME before intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF, 36 eyes with previous pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) combined with pan-retinal endolaser photocoagulation (PRP), and 71 treatment-naïve. Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, interferon-induced protein (IP)-10, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were measured by cytometric bead array (CBA). Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used for measuring central retinal thickness (CRT).</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> IL-6, IL-8, IP-10, and MCP-1 in aqueous humor of DME vitrectomized eyes were significantly higher than in non-vitrectomized DME eyes, while VEGF was lower than in non-vitrectomized DME eyes. VEGF in aqueous humor significantly correlated with CRT for DME in non-vitrectomized DME eyes. IL-6, IL-8, IP-10, and MCP-1 in aqueous humor were not significantly associated with VEGF for DME in vitrectomized eyes.</p><p><bold>Conclusions:</bold> Inflammation might play an important role in the pathogenesis of DME in vitrectomized eyes. Moreover, inflammation might play a central role in the development of DME <italic>via</italic> the VEGF-independent pathway. Thus, anti-inflammatory therapy might be a strategy for DME in vitrectomized eyes.</p>