Change of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Levels following Vitrectomy in Eyes with Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy.

Purpose: To study the change of concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in vitreous cavity after vitrectomy in eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).

Methods: In this retrospective study, intravitreal fluid samples were taken at baseline (beginning of the vitrectomy) and postoperatively (several days later after vitrectomy) at the time of prophylactic injection of bevacizumab in forty-eight eyes of forty-eight patients with PDR. Postvitrectomy fluid samples were divided into four groups according to the time interval between the vitrectomy and the injection (group 1, 3-5 days; group 2, 6-10 days; group 3, 11-15 days; group 4, 16-21 days; twelve eyes in each group). Postvitrectomy fluid sample was paired with baseline sample for each eye. VEGF concentrations in the samples were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Recurrent vitreous hemorrhage and neovascular glaucoma within six months postvitrectomy were also analyzed.

Results: Overall, the intravitreal VEGF level after vitrectomy (median, 36.95 pg/ml; range, 3.2-1,299.4 pg/ml) was significantly less than the VEGF level at baseline (median, 704.5 pg/ml; range, 30.6-1,981.1 pg/ml). Postoperative and baseline VEGF levels were significantly correlated ( = 0.499, < 0.01). Both the absolute value of postoperative VEGF concentrations and the postop/baseline VEGF ratios declined with time and dramatically decreased in groups 3 and 4. In only two eyes, the postoperative VEGF level was even higher than the baseline VEGF level (postop/baseline VEGF ratio >1), and recurrent vitreous hemorrhage developed within six months in these two eyes.

Conclusions: After vitrectomy for PDR, intravitreal VEGF levels decreased substantially in the majority of patients, while persistent high-VEGF level occurred in a few individuals. Postoperative VEGF levels and postop/baseline VEGF ratio declined with time. The postop/preop VEGF ratio may serve as a predictor for late complications.