Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been shown to play a major role in intraocular
neovascularisation in ischaemic retinal diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate
the concentration of VEGF in vitreous, aqueous and epiretinal membranes of diabetic
and non-diabetic patients, with other pathological conditions requiring surgical intervention.
Higher VEGF concentration were found in samples from the eyes of diabetic patients
versus other pathologies as well as in epiretinal membranes versus the other eye compartments
in diabetic patients. However, high VEGF levels were also found in retinal detachment
and proliferative vitreoretinopathy of non-diabetic patients. We concluded that VEGF
is produced locally and plays a fundamental, but not specific, role in diabetic retinal
neovascularisation and proliferation.
Key words
VEGF - Diabetic retinopathy - retinal proliferation
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Prof. Alfredo Reibaldi
Department of Surgical and Medical Specialties
Section of Ophthalmology
University of Catania
Via G. Clementi 36
95100 Catania
Italy
Telefon: + 390957435723
Fax: + 39 0 95 31 29 17
eMail: Clinica.Oculistica@mbox.unict.it