Findings for patients with diabetes, patients with glaucoma who used prostaglandin agents
FRIDAY, Dec. 30, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels are significantly higher in the aqueous humor of diabetes mellitus (DM) patients and glaucoma patients who used prostaglandin agents, according to a letter to the editor published online Dec. 23 in Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology.
Jin-woo Kwon, M.D., and Donghyun Jee, M.D., Ph.D., from the Catholic University of Korea in Suwon, compared levels of VEGF in the aqueous humors of 16 cataract patients without ocular disease (control group) with those of 12 patients with DM and 17 patients with glaucoma.
The researchers found that the VEGF levels differed significantly among the groups (P = 0.003). Compared with the control group, VEGF level was significantly higher in the DM group (P = 0.001) and in the glaucoma group (P = 0.015). There were significant associations between the levels of VEGF versus DM (P = 0.036) and axial length (P = 0.029), in univariate analyses. Significant associations were found in regression analysis between levels of VEGF and DM (P = 0.003) and prostaglandin agent use (P = 0.017).
“In summary, we showed increased VEGF concentrations in the aqueous humor of DM patients and glaucoma patients who used prostaglandin agents,” the authors write. “However, it was unclear whether they played positive or negative roles in these patients. This will need to be decided by additional studies with larger cohorts.”
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Copyright © 2016 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
