Vascular endothelial growth factor and its soluble receptors-1 and -2 in iris neovascularization and neovascular glaucoma.

Concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), soluble VEGF receptor-1 (sVEGFR-1) and soluble VEGF receptor-2 (sVEGFR-2) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 27 proliferative diabetic retinopathy patients who had iris neovascularization (INV) with or without neovascular glaucoma (NVG). The 27 eyes were divided into two groups, consisting of INV without elevation of the intraocular pressure (IOP; INV group) and INV with elevated IOP (NVG group). Ten patients with an idiopathic macular hole were used as the controls. The vitreous levels of VEGF, sVEGFR-1 and sVEGFR-2 showed a significant increase across the three groups. In the INV and NVG groups, the vitreous level of VEGF showed a significant correlation with the levels of sVEGFR-1 and sVEGFR-2. There was also a significant correlation between the vitreous levels of sVEGFR-1 and sVEGFR-2. These results suggest that the vitreous levels of sVEGFR-1 and sVEGFR-2 are dependent on VEGF in patients who have INV with or without NVG.