Evaluation of the growth factors VEGF-a and VEGF-B in the vitreous and serum of patients with macular and retinal vascular diseases

Abstract

VEGF-A and VEGF-B are proangiogenic and key regulating factors for blood vessel growth. This study aims to compare VEGF-A and VEGF-B levels in the serum and vitreous of patients with neovascular pathology versus non-neovascular pathology. Our findings showed vitreous VEGF-A and VEGF-B levels increased in patients with neovascular disease, with higher levels of VEGF-A compared to VEGF-B (p ≤ .05). In the diabetic retinopathy (DR) group, higher vitreous VEGF-A or VEGF-B were found in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) than in non-PDR. The strong correlation between VEGF-A and VEGF-B demonstrates a simultaneous pathological increase of cytokines (p < .001), suggesting besides VEGF-A, VEGF-B is another contributor to ocular pathologies involving angiogenesis. There was no correlation between vitreous and serum VEGF-A or VEGF-B; however, a correlation between vitreous (VEGF-A or VEGF-B) and macular volume (p < .05) in DR patients was found. Targeting VEGF-A and VEGF-B in macular and retinal vascular diseases, involving neovascularization, may improve treatment outcomes.

Effect of pan-retinal laser photocoagulation on intravitreal vascular endothelial growth factor concentration in proliferative diabetic retinopathy

“…There was a significant positive correlation between vitreous VEGF concentration and blood glucose levels in patients with previous PRP. This correlates with other studies in which patients with good diabetes control have lower serum and vitreous VEGF levels [ 22 ]. The same authors reported a significant positive correlation between vitreous and serum VEGF concentration, hence the conclusion that anti-VEGF therapy would be beneficial in PDR progression reduction.…”

Relationship between Serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Levels and Stages of Diabetic Retinopathy and Other Biomarkers

“…Furthermore, we found significantly higher levels of serum VEGF in patients with PDR compared to those with NPDR. ese results are mirrored by reports from other parts of the world [21,28,43,44]. us, consideration of VEGF levels as a suitable tool for risk assessment in DM type 2 patients regarding microangiopathic complications is an interesting concept despite the variation in VEGF levels amongst studies, which may reflect inherent demographic susceptibility.…”

Determination of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-B Concentrations in Aqueous Humor and Plasma of Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy Patients Before and After Anti-VEGF Therapy

“…Previously, numerous cytokines like VEGF and VEGF-A were generally tested in neovascular diseases, whereas the concentrations of VEGF-B were rarely measured specifically [23][24][25][26][27]. Regardless of some research revealing obvious upregulation of VEGF-B in plasma and vitreous of patients with diabetic retinopathy, VEGF-B concentrations were seldom reported in nAMD and PCV [28][29][30]. This study provided novel information that local and systemic levels of VEGF-B were elevated in treatment groups when compared with the control group at baseline, indicating that the VEGF-B might be related to the disease process of nAMD and PCV.…”