Aqueous Humor Levels of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Patients With Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Subretinal Drusenoid Deposits.

PURPOSE

We sought to investigate aqueous humor levels of growth factors and cytokines related to human angiogenesis in patients with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

METHODS

This prospective study classified patients with dry AMD into two groups of patients-those with soft drusen and those with both soft drusen and subretinal drusenoid deposits (SDDs). Aqueous humor samples were collected from each group and from a control group to analyze intraocular cytokine concentrations and examine their associations with AMD characteristics.

RESULTS

A total of 48 participants, 16 per group, were enrolled in the study. The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A level was highest in the soft drusen with SDD group (229.21 ± 88.26 pg/mL) compared to the soft drusen group (167.54 ± 92.71 pg/mL) and the control group (140.73 ± 84.91 pg/mL) (P = 0.021). There were no significant differences in the concentrations of angiopoietin-2, placental growth factor, interleukin-1α, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, interleukin-10, or tumor necrosis factor-α among the groups (all P > 0.05). In the soft drusen with SDD group, a higher cube root of drusen volume (β = 0.533, P = 0.033) was significantly associated with an elevated VEGF-A level.

CONCLUSIONS

In eyes with dry AMD, those with both soft drusen and SDDs exhibited higher intraocular VEGF-A levels than those with only soft drusen, and these levels correlated with the cube root of drusen volume.