Comparison of Intraocular Cytokine Levels of Choroidal Neovascularization Secondary to Different Retinopathies.

To investigate and compare the aqueous concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and other inflammatory cytokines in various choroidal neovascularization (CNV) diseases and types. This observational study included 127 naive eyes with CNV and 43 control eyes with cataracts. Aqueous humor (AH) samples were obtained prior to intravitreal anti-VEGF injection or cataract surgery. Multiple inflammatory cytokines, including VEGF, interleukin (IL) 6, IL-8, IL-10, interferon-inducible protein 10 (IP-10), and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) levels, were measured using a multiplex bead assay. The angiogenesis index was defined as the ratio of IP-10 to MCP-1. In addition, the relationship among AH cytokine levels, central macular thickness (CMT), and CNV size on optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) was evaluated. Except in the myopic CNV group ( = 0.452), the AH concentration of VEGF was significantly higher in all other CNV groups than in the control group ( < 0.05 for all comparisons). IL-8, IL-10, IP-10, and MCP-1 levels ( < 0.05 for all groups) were significantly higher in all CNV diseases except those with neovascular central serous chorioretinopathy. The angiogenesis index was significantly higher in all CNV diseases ( < 0.05 for all comparisons). The VEGF level may be associated with the size of the CNV on OCTA ( = 0.043). The level of intraocular inflammatory cytokines varied among different CNV diseases and CNV types. Therefore, the angiogenesis index may be a more sensitive indicator of angiogenesis.