Antiangiogenic isoforms of vascular endothelial growth factor predominate in subretinal fluid of patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

Background: In proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), a nonangiogenic eye disease that is characterized by the formation of mainly avascular membranes, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels are found to be upregulated. Recently, it was discovered that VEGF is alternatively spliced to form the angiogenic (VEGF xxx) and antiangiogenic (VEGF xxx b) family of isoforms. Previous studies on expression of VEGF in PVR samples have not distinguished between the two families of isoforms.

Balance of vascular endothelial growth factor and pigment epithelial growth factor prior to development of proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

Background: Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are imbalanced in eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy or proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). It is not known whether such an imbalance is already present in early PVR stages. We therefore analyzed VEGF and PEDF concentrations in subretinal fluids prior to PVR development.

Immunohistochemical analysis of the internal limiting membrane peeled with infracyanine green.

Purpose: To investigate whether the peeled internal limiting membrane (ILM) contains cellular retinal cell fragments, and to learn more about their possible origin.

Design: Experimental study.

Methods: ILM peeled from ten eyes during vitrectomy by infracyanine green (ICG) was studied immunohistochemically using the markers: GFAP, S-100, and vimentin.

High TGF-beta2 levels during primary retinal detachment may protect against proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

Purpose: Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta2 and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) after retinal detachment surgery. The exact role of these factors in the early events, immediately after primary retinal detachment, is not yet known, and determining their roles was therefore the purpose of this study.

Methods: Subretinal fluids were collected prospectively from 144 patients during surgery for scleral buckling.