Vitreoretinal lymphoma versus uveitis: cytokine profile and correlations.

PURPOSE

To compare the cytokine spectrum of vitreoretinal lymphoma to uveitis and correlate cytokine concentrations with disease activity.

METHODS

Retrospective case series of 10 patients with vitreoretinal lymphoma and 7 patients with uveitis. Aqueous humor concentration of IFN-γ, TNF-α, TNF-β, IL-1ra, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IL-17, MCP-1, G-CSF, GM-CSF, and VEGF-A was determined using a bead-based assay (Luminex). Variance between groups, correlation coefficients, and longitudinal behavior of cytokines were analyzed.

RESULTS

No statistically significant difference in cytokines was found when comparing groups. IL-10 was positively correlated with IL-6 and MCP-1. IL-6 was positively correlated with G-CSF, IL-1ra, IL-8, and IL-10. A relationship between concentration of any cytokine, aside from IL-10, and disease activity was not found.

CONCLUSION

IL-10 and IL-6 are good immunologic markers to be used as complementary diagnostic tools. IL-10 is the only IL that could be used for monitoring purposes.