Analysis of Intraocular Cytokines According to Progression of Diabetic Retinopathy and Macular Edema in Diabetic Patients

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between the aqueous concentrations of cytokines, chemokine, VEGF and the severity of diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema. METHODS: Sixty eyes with diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema, and 10 eyes of nondiabetic subjects were followed for 6 months. The aqueous levels of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors were measured. The aqueous levels of cytokines were investigated according to the severity of diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema. RESULTS: The aqueous levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, MCP-1, and VEGF were elevated according to the severity of diabetic retinopathy. The aqueous levels of IL-13 were higher in eyes of diabetic patients than in eyes of nondiabetic subjects, but there were no statistically significant difference between diabetic retinopathy and nondiabetic subjects. The aqueous levels of IL-6, MCP-1, and VEGF were positively correlated with central macular thickness in eyes with diabetic macular edema. CONCLUSIONS: The aqueous levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, MCP-1, and VEGF were correlated with the severity of diabetic retinopathy. The aqueous levels of IL-6, MCP-1, and VEGF were positively correlated with the severity of macular edema.

A Case of Central Serous Chorioretinopathy Associated With Retinal Detachment Improved by Intravitreal Bevacizumab Injection

PURPOSE: To report a case of chronic central serous chorioretinopathy treated with an intravitreal injection of 2.5 mg of bevacizumab. CASE SUMMARY: A 38-year-old male complained of visual disturbance in the right eye. He had a history of central serous chorioretinopathy which improved without treatment. Since the patient did not feel any ocular discomfort, he did not visit our clinic for approximately 11 months. At the time of presentation, fundus examination revealed exudative retinal detachment involving the macular area. Additionally, fluorescein angiography revealed multiple early phase hyperfluorescent lesions. Neurosensory detachment around the macula and increased central macular thickness were also observed using optical coherence tomography. Under the diagnosis of chronic central serous chorioretinoapthy, the patient was treated with 2.5 mg of intravitreal bevacizumab. Visual acuity improved two months after treatment, with improvement in both neurosensory retinal detachment and fluorescein leakage. No changes were observed at the six-month follow-up.