Aqueous Cytokines as Predictors of Macular Edema in Patients with Diabetes following Uncomplicated Phacoemulsification Cataract Surgery

Abstract

This study aims to ascertain whether cytokines in the aqueous humor can predict macular edema (ME) in diabetic patients following uncomplicated phacoemulsification cataract surgery. Undiluted aqueous humor samples were obtained from 136 consecutive type 2 diabetic patients who underwent cataract surgery. The concentrations of 27 cytokines were measured in aqueous humor using the multiplex bead immunoassay. At the final follow-up examination, 116 patients completed 4 weeks of follow-up, and the incidence of macular edema was 29.31% (34 patients) 4 weeks after cataract surgery. Compared to the ME (−) patients, the concentrations of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) (P < 0.001), IL-6 (P < 0.001), IL-8 (P < 0.001), interferon-induced protein-10 (IP-10) (P = 0.003), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) (P < 0.001), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (P < 0.001) in the ME (+) patients were significantly higher. In addition, the aqueous levels of IL-1β (r = 0.288), IL-6 (r = 0.345), IL-8 (r = 0.256), IP-10 (r = 0.377), MCP-1 (r = 0.423), and VEGF (r = 0.279) were positively correlated with the postoperative foveal center point thickness (FCPT). However, the aqueous levels of IL-10 (P = 0.003) and IL-12 (P = 0.017) were significantly lower in patients with ME. These results suggest IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IP-10, MCP-1, and VEGF may be potential predictors of postoperative macular thickness in patients with diabetes following uncomplicated phacoemulsification cataract surgery.

Comparison of the Efficacy of Sub-Tenon versus Intravitreal Triamcinolone Acetonide Injection during Cataract Surgery for Diabetic Macular Edema

“…However, these agents do not significantly reduce the macular thickness in eyes with DME after CS [8,9]. This is probably because cytokines other than VEGF are involved in the onset and the progression of DME after CS [5], and anti-VEGF agents cannot reduce the levels of these other cytokines in eyes with DME [10].…”

“…Cataract surgery (CS) has a high risk of causing and advancing DME because there is a causal relationship between the perioperative inflammation and the bloodretinal barrier breakdown in patients with diabetic retinopathy [3,4]. A recent study found that several cytokines -including interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, IL-10, IL-1β, interferon-induced protein-10 (IP-10), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) -were significantly higher in patients with DME after CS [5]. These inflammatory cytokines are associated with the breakdown of the bloodretinal barrier, which leads to increased vascular permeability.…”

“…These inflammatory cytokines are associated with the breakdown of the bloodretinal barrier, which leads to increased vascular permeability. In fact, the presence of these factors may be a potential predictor of the onset or the progression of DME after CS [5].…”

Evaluation of the Systemic-Local Cytokine Profile in Patients with Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome

“…Данные ли-тературы, свидетельствуют о том, что увеличение содержания ИЛ 8 ассоциируется с высокой степе-нью глиотической облитерации сосудов [8], а так-же является маркером воспалительно-деструктивных изменений в местах повреждений [9]. Увеличение содержания ИЛ-8 при ПЭС в соче-тании с глаукомой может свидетельствовать о раз-носторонних механизмах нарушений, и соответст-вует исследованиям [19].…”

Novel Therapies in Development for Diabetic Macular Edema

“…Increased intraocular cytokines have been observed in the vitreous fluid of patients with proliferative DR [54][55][56]. Interleukins (IL) such as IL-1 and IL-6 have been shown to play a role in the pathogenesis of DR by contributing towards the breakdown of blood-retinal-barrier.…”