Effect of intravitreal dexamethasone implant on intra‐ocular cytokines and chemokines in eyes with retinal vein occlusion. Issue 2 (15th July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rezar‐Dreindl, Sandra; Eibenberger, Katharina; Pollreisz, Andreas; Bühl, Wolf; Georgopoulos, Michael; Krall, Christoph; Dunavölgyi, Roman; Weigert, Günther; Kroh, Maria‐Elisabeth; Schmidt‐Erfurth, Ursula; Sacu, Stefan
• Is Part Of: Acta ophthalmologica. Volume 95:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: e119
• Page End: e127
• Publication Date: 2016-07-15
• Subjects: branch retinal vein occlusion -- central retinal vein occlusion -- dexamethasone intravitreal implant -- intra‐ocular cytokines; Ophthalmology -- Periodicals; 617.7005
• DOI: 10.1111/aos.13152
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1755-375X

Abstract

Abstract: Purpose: To investigate the influence of intravitreal dexamethasone implant on inflammatory and angiogenic cytokine levels in the aqueous of patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO). Methods: Forty eyes of 40 consecutive patients with macular oedema (ME) due to branch and central retinal vein occlusion (BRVO/CRVO) were treated with an intravitreal dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex ® ) at baseline and evaluated until month 6. Retreatment was performed in case of recurrent ME earliest 4 months after the baseline treatment. Aqueous humour samples were taken at baseline, months 1, 3, 6 and at the time of each retreatment. Concentrations of 29 different cytokines were measured by Luminex ® bead assays. The control group comprised healthy patients undergoing cataract surgery. Results: At baseline concentrations of interleukin (IL)‐8, angiopoietin (ANG)‐2 and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)‐1 were highly elevated in patients with CRVO compared with controls (p = 0.006; p = 0.02; p = 0.03). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentrations were upregulated in patients with BRVO and CRVO (p = 0.003; p = 0.001). Retreatment with a dexamethasone implant was necessary after 4 months in 14/8 (BRVO/CRVO) patients, 5 months in 5/3 patients and 6 months in one patient (BRVO). After the initial treatment, macrophage chemo‐attractant protein (MCP)‐1 and IL17‐E concentrations decreased in BRVO (p < 0.001; p = 0.01) and MCP‐1 and IL1‐ α in CRVO (p = 0.01; p = 0.003). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentrations did not change during treatment in either group (p = 0.3). A mixed‐effect model showed that cytokine concentrations positively correlated with central retinal thickness changes. Conclusions: Intravitreal dexamethasone treatment resulted in alterations in the concentrations of pro‐inflammatory cytokines MCP‐1 and IL17‐E in patients with BRVO and MCP‐1 and IL1‐ α in patients with CRVO. These data highlight the important role of inflammatory mediators involved in ME due to RVO.