[Intraocular levels of pigment epithelium-derived factor in patients with active uveitis].

OBJECTIVE Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is an antiangiogenic/neurotrophic dual functional factor, and recently it was also shown to mediate antioxidative and anti-inflammatory action. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the levels of PEDF in the aqueous humor in eyes with idiopathic acute anterior uveitis (IAAU). METHODS A comparative control study. Aqueous humor was collected from 20 eyes of 20 patients with IAAU. The control group included 20 aqueous humor samples from 20 patients who underwent a cataract surgery and without any other ocular or systemic diseases. Levels of PEDF were determined with the ELISA test. RESULTS Concentration of PEDF in aqueous humor was remarkably higher in patients with IAAU than in control subjects (Mann-Whitney U test, P<.001). Levels of PEDF were 6,291,637.70±8,564,836.48 pg/ml (mean±SD) in eyes with IAAU and 449,178.10±158,670.19 pg/ml in the eyes of the control group. CONCLUSION The aqueous humor PEDF levels are increased in eyes with IAAU and may be increased as self-protection against inflammation.