Plasma dopamine and catecholamine levels in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate plasma dopamine and catecholamine levels in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective study, 32 patients with acute CSCR were included, along with 32 age- and gender-matched healthy controls without CSCR. Complete ophthalmologic examinations were performed. Plasma dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine levels were measured in the morning after 8-12hours of fasting. A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: While the mean age of the CSCR group was 40.12±7.96 years, the mean age of the control group was 37.81±7.26 years. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of age or gender (P=0.229, P=0.740, respectively). The plasma dopamine level was 29.85±9.39pg/ml in the CSCR group and 23.93±7.33pg/ml in the control group (P=0.001). The plasma epinephrine level was 60.73±25.69pg/ml in the CSCR group and 45.77±18.55pg/ml in the control group (P=0.021). The plasma norepinephrine level was 206.68±71.51pg/ml in the CSCR group and 149.33±49.69pg/ml in the control group (P=0.001). Plasma dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine levels were statistically significantly higher in the CSCR group. CONCLUSION: We concluded that dopamine may be a possible factor in the etiology of CSCR, both through its receptors and by enhancing sympathetic activity.