Vascular endothelial growth factor is increased in aqueous humor of glaucomatous eyes.

PURPOSE: To assess the concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in aqueous humor in eyes with and without glaucoma.

METHODS

Concentrations of VEGF were measured using a sandwich ELISA kit in aqueous humor aspirates taken during anterior segment surgery from 87 patients, of whom 54 had glaucoma (27 primary open-angle glaucoma, 8 angle-closure glaucoma, 16 exfoliative glaucoma) and 33 had cataract only.

RESULTS

Vascular endothelial growth factor was detected in all samples. The concentration in eyes with cataract only without glaucoma was 102.4 +/- 29.7 pg/mL (mean +/- SD), which was significantly lower than that from eyes with glaucoma (146.7 +/- 51.8 pg/mL). There were no significant differences between primary open-angle glaucoma (140.4 +/- 51.0 pg/mL), angle-closure glaucoma (142.8 +/- 40.2 pg/mL), and exfoliative glaucoma (158.6 +/- 58.9 pg/mL). An unusually high VEGF concentration was detected in one eye with neovascular glaucoma (759 pg/mL) and two eyes with uveitic glaucoma (322 pg/mL). No effect of age, gender, or previous history of medical, laser, or surgical treatment of the aqueous humor VEGF concentration could be detected ( > 0.05). Aqueous humor and plasma VEGF concentrations were measured and compared in 46 patients. The aqueous humor VEGF concentration (144.2 +/- 107.9 pg/mL) was significantly higher ( < 0.01) than the plasma concentration (79.2 +/- 46.1 pg/mL). No significant correlation was found between aqueous humor and plasma VEGF concentrations.

CONCLUSION

Aqueous VEGF concentration is increased in eyes with glaucoma.