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Updated: May 16, 2026
Cell-Free DNA Extraction of Vitreous and Aqueous Humor Specimens for Diagnosis and Monitoring of Vitreoretinal Lymphoma
Published on: January 12, 2024
[Cytokine determination from vitreous samples in retinal vascular diseases]
Purpose:
The aim of this study was to determine cytokine levels from vitreous samples of treatment-naive patients with diabetic retinopathy (DRP), retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and exudative age-related macular degeneration (ARMD).
Methods:
In this study 187 patients (median age 67 years, 101 males) were treated with a combined drug therapy including a 23-gauge core vitrectomy. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and intravitreal vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) levels were determined a using cytometric bead assay (CBA) and compared to those of the control group.
Results:
Compared to the control group all diseases had significantly elevated cytokine levels, except VEGF in ARMD. In DRP samples of patients with diffuse diabetic macula edema (DME) higher VEGF-A and MCP-1 levels were found than in patients with focal DME. Ischemic DRP had higher VEGF levels than non-ischemic DRP. All measured cytokines were significantly higher in central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) than in branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).
Conclusions:
Differences in intravitreal cytokine levels in DRP, RVO and ARMD could be demonstrated. The knowledge of depicted specific characteristic dysregulation of cytokines could allow more targeted future therapies.
