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Updated: May 12, 2026
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Published on: August 11, 2023
Interleukin 8 promoter polymorphism predicts the initial response to bevacizumab treatment for exudative age-related
Asta Hautamäki1, Jarno Kivioja, Satu Vavuli
1*Department of Ophthalmology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland †Department of Medical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland Departments of ‡Ophthalmology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, and §Internal Medicine, Clinical Research Center and Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland ¶Department of Clinical Chemistry, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland **Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Purpose:
To study the association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms of interleukin 8, vascular endothelial growth factor, erythropoietin, complement factor H, complement component C3, and LOC387715 genes with the response to bevacizumab treatment in exudative age-related macular degeneration.
Methods:
Clinical records, smoking history, optical coherence tomography, and angiographies of 96 bevacizumab-treated exudative age-related macular degeneration patients were analyzed retrospectively. Blood DNA was collected. Based on the disappearance of intra- or subretinal fluid in optical coherence tomography, patients were graded as responders, partial responders, or nonresponders after 3 initial treatment visits and a median time of 3.5 months.
Results:
Interleukin 8 promoter polymorphism -251A/T was significantly associated with persisting fluid in optical coherence tomography. The A allele was more frequent in nonresponders than in responders (P = 0.033). In multivariate modeling, the AA genotype of -251A/T (P = 0.043) and occult (P = 0.042) or predominantly classic (P = 0.040) lesions predicted poorer outcome. Visual acuity change was better in responders than in nonresponders (P = 0.006). Baseline lesion size (P = 0.006) and retinal cysts after the treatment (P < 0.001) correlated with less visual acuity gain.
Conclusion:
The A allele and the homozygous AA genotype of interleukin 8 -251A/T were associated with anatomical nonresponse to bevacizumab treatment.
