Cytokine Kinetics after Monthly Intravitreal Bevacizumab for Retinal Vein Occlusion Associated with Macular Oedema.

PURPOSE: To investigate changes of cytokines after intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) or central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).

METHODS

Monthly doses of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) were administered for 6 months to treat macular oedema associated with BRVO or CRVO. Aqueous humour levels of 11 factors were measured using samples obtained from 24 patients during IVB treatment (16 BRVO patients and 8 CRVO patients). Levels of VEGF, placental growth factor (PlGF), soluble VEGF receptor (sVEGFR)-1, sVEGFR-2, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM)-1, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-AA, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-12 (p70), and IL-13 were measured by suspension array.

RESULTS

Vision and macular oedema improved significantly after monthly IVB. Furthermore, there was a significant decrease in sVEGFR-1, VEGF, PDGF-AA, MCP-1, and IL-8 after monthly IVB. On the other hand, there were no significant changes of sVEGFR-2, PlGF, sICAM-1, or IL-6 after monthly IVB. After 1 dose of bevacizumab, changes of VEGF, visual acuity, and optical coherence tomography parameters almost occurred in parallel.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest an important role of the cytokine network in both BRVO and CRVO, and may contribute to a new strategy for macular oedema associated with retinal vein occlusion.