Distinct Serum and Vitreous Inflammation-Related Factor Profiles in Patients with Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy

Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), which is regulated by growth factors and cytokines, is the leading cause of failure in vitreoretinal surgery. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of the human serum and vitreous inflammation-related factors in the development of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR).

Blood and vitreous samples were obtained from patients undergoing pars plana vitrectomy. Inflammation-related factors were detected using an immunology multiplex assay on a Luminex^® xMAP^® platform. Patients with PVR and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) were compared with macular hole (MH) or epiretinal membrane (ERM) patients without any other ocular or systemic disease.

Thirty-six serum samples and 34 vitreous samples were obtained. Thirty-one different growth factors and cytokines were detected in serum samples. However, none of the circulating growth factors and cytokines were found to be different from the controls. Ten different growth factors and cytokines were measured in the vitreous samples. The concentration levels of PDGF-AA, TGF-α, VEGF, IL-6, IL-8, and TNFβ were found to have significantly increased in the vitreous of PVR patients.

Our study found that none of the circulating inflammation-related factors were changed in PVR or RRD patients, indicating the absence of a system inflammatory biomarkers to predict the development of proliferative vitreoretinopathy. As a supplement to previous research, the concentrations of PDGF-AA, TGF-α, VEGF, IL-6, IL-8, and TNFβ were significantly upregulated in the vitreous of PVR patients. These factors should be considered for preventing PVR.