Intraocular Cytokines and Their Correlations with Clinical Parameters in Patients with Myopic Choroidal...

To study cytokine levels in aqueous humor of patients with myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV), their correlations with each other and ocular parameters.

Ophthalmological examination and immunological study of aqueous humor with cytokine levels measurement (Bio-Plex™ Human Cytokine 27-Plex panel; Bio-Rad Laboratories, USA) were performed in 19 patients (19 eyes) with ranibizumab-treated mCNV and compared to 15 patients (15 eyes) with myopia without CNV.

The levels of 10 cytokines were significantly different in patients with mCNV compared to the controls: the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level was 2 times lower (191.15 ± 142.30 and 320.06 ± 170.05 pg/mL, respectively), and the levels of PDGF, IL-2, IL-5, IL-13, IL-15, IL-17А, TNF-α, IL-8, and RANTES were elevated. Strong correlations between morphological and functional parameters and cytokines, including VEGF, were found. The VEGF level inversely correlated with the myopia degree and the cytokines IL-13, INF-γ, and RANTES.

The decrease in VEGF levels accompanied by imbalance of other cytokines may suggest additional mCNV development pathways.