Von Willebrand factor in subretinal fluid

To measure the vWF antigen concentration (vWF Ag) in subretinal fluid (SRF) and blood plasma.

Prospective study of 30 patients, aged from 15 to 78 years (mean 52.7 years), undergoing retinal detachment surgery. Excluded were patients with venous or arterial disease or any other factors that could affect the parameters evaluated. Subretinal samples were obtained at the time of routine drainage during retinal detachment surgery. Venous blood samples were taken from the cubital vein into sodium citrate solution (9:1) immediately after induction of anesthesia but before surgery. VWF in plasma and in SRF and its relation to patients' age, sex, the duration and extent of retinal detachment, number of retinal tears, and cryopexy application were evaluated.

The median level of vWFAg in 30 samples of SRF was 6.3%. The median level of vWF Ag in blood plasma was 70.34%. The levels of vWF Ag in SRF were significantly lower than in blood plasma (p<0.00001). We found no correlation between the vWF Ag concentration in plasma or in SRF and sex, the degree of myopia, the duration and extent of retinal detachment, number of retinal tears and the use of cryopexy.

Determination of vWF Ag showed that this factor in SRF is unrelated to patients', sex, the degree of myopia, the duration and extent of retinal detachment, number of retinal tears and use of cryopexy.