Study of aqueous cytokines in patients with different patterns of diabetic macular edema based on optical coherence tomography.

PURPOSE

To compare aqueous angiogenic and inflammatory cytokine concentrations in different patterns of diabetic macular edema (DME) based on optical coherence tomography (OCT).

METHODS

This prospective study was conducted between July 1, 2015, and March 31, 2016, for 9 months. Aqueous samples were obtained from 52 consecutive DME patients and 16 controls. DME patients were divided according to OCT patterns into diffuse retinal thickening (DRT; n = 17), cystoid macular edema (CME; n = 20) and serous retinal detachment (SRD; n = 15) groups. Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels were measured by RayBio Human ELISA Kit.

RESULTS

IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF levels differed significantly between three DME groups (p < 0.001 in all cases), but the differences in TNF-α levels were not significant (p = 0.226). VEGF and IL-6 levels correlated with central foveal thickness in DRT and SRD groups, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Aqueous cytokine levels vary with different morphological patterns of DME though the role of TNF-α needs to be studied further, and both anti-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory agents are required simultaneously for treatment of DME.