Concentration of cytokines in the aqueous humor of patients with central serous chorioretinopathy.

PURPOSE To evaluate the levels of aqueous humor cytokines in the eyes of patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) before an intravitreal injection of bevacizumab. METHODS In a prospective interventional trial, 20 eyes of 20 patients with symptomatic CSC of at least 3 months duration and 20 eyes of 20 patients with cataract as control were included. Eyes with CSC received a single intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (1.25 mg/0.05 mL). Aqueous humor samples were collected from patients and controls. Multiplex bead assays were used for measurement of cytokines, including vascular endothelial growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor. RESULTS Similar vascular endothelial growth factor levels and significantly decreased platelet-derived growth factor levels were measured in the aqueous humor of eyes from patients with CSC compared with controls (P = 0.172 and P = 0.004, respectively). There was a significant inverse correlation between the vascular endothelial growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor in patients (r = -0.555; P = 0.026). Interleukin 6, interleukin 8, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 were detectable, but not significantly different between the patients and controls. CONCLUSION The results of the current study suggest that platelet-derived growth factor contributes to the pathogenesis of CSC; however, the roles of vascular endothelial growth factor in CSC are unclear and warrant further investigation.