Diabetic patients and retinal proliferation: an evaluation of the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

Abstract

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been shown to play a major role in intraocular neovascularisation in ischaemic retinal diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentration of VEGF in vitreous, aqueous and epiretinal membranes of diabetic and non-diabetic patients, with other pathological conditions requiring surgical intervention. Higher VEGF concentration were found in samples from the eyes of diabetic patients versus other pathologies as well as in epiretinal membranes versus the other eye compartments in diabetic patients. However, high VEGF levels were also found in retinal detachment and proliferative vitreoretinopathy of non-diabetic patients. We concluded that VEGF is produced locally and plays a fundamental, but not specific, role in diabetic retinal neovascularisation and proliferation.

• Authors: V G Nicoletti, R Nicoletti, N Ferrara, G Meli, M Reibaldi, A Reibaldi
• Journal: Experimental and clinical endocrinology & diabetes : official journal, German Society of Endocrinology [and] German Diabetes Association (Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes) Vol. 111 Issue 4 Pg. 209-14 (Jun 2003) ISSN: 0947-7349 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 12845559 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

Topics

• Aqueous Humor (metabolism)
• Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
• Diabetic Retinopathy (complications, metabolism, pathology, surgery)
• Epiretinal Membrane (metabolism)
• Eye Diseases (metabolism)
• Female
• Humans
• Hypertension (complications, metabolism)
• Light Coagulation
• Macula Lutea
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Osmolar Concentration
• Postoperative Period
• Retina (metabolism, pathology)
• Retinal Detachment (complications, metabolism)
• Retinal Diseases (metabolism)
• Retinal Neovascularization (metabolism)
• Retinal Perforations (metabolism)
• Tissue Distribution
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (blood, metabolism)
• Vitrectomy
• Vitreoretinopathy, Proliferative (complications, metabolism)
• Vitreous Body (metabolism)