Vitreous vascular endothelial growth factor level during gestation.

Purpose: To evaluate the vitreous VEGF level alterations and its correlation with its plasma level if any, in gestation.

Methods: The blood and vitreous sampling procedures were performed before, during (20-23 days of gestation), and after gestation (2 months after birth) from seven White New Zealand rabbits. Blood samples were centrifuged then supernatants and vitreous samples were stored at -80 degrees C until assay. Measurements of serum and vitreous VEGF(165) were done by ELISA.

Results: The median plasma and vitreous VEGF(165) concentrations were 36.61 pg/ml (range 19.17-40.30), 14.92 pg/ml (range 8.95-15.20); 58.30 pg/ml (range 32.60-11.53), 20.51 pg/ml (range 11.94-21.26); and 35.30 pg/ml (range 27.30-39.60), 13.05 pg/ml (range 9.33-16.04) before, during and after gestation, respectively. Both the plasma and the vitreous VEGF(165) concentration during gestational period were significantly higher than pre-gestational period (P = 0.028, P = 0.018) and post-gestational period (P = 0.043, P = 0.028). The intravitreal VEGF(165 )concentrations appeared to correlate with plasma VEGF(165) levels (r = 0.940, P = 0.002) only in the gestational period.

Conclusion: Vitreous VEGF levels increase in positive correlation with plasma VEGF during pregnancy. Further prospective studies are needed to support this finding.