[The effect of vitrectomy on changes in molecular biomarker levels of the vitreous cavity in the early postoperative period in proliferative diabetic retinopathy].

Determining the levels of molecular biomarkers detected in the vitreous body in various pathological conditions (including diabetic retinopathy), allows for a better understanding of their pathogenesis and optimization of treatment approaches. The multiplex assay is a modern alternative to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), enabling the simultaneous analysis of a large number of biomarkers.

Purpose: This study was performed to identify changes in the levels of vitreous biomarkers in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) in the early postoperative period following 25-gauge vitrectomy.

Material and methods: The study included 24 patients (24 eyes) with type 2 diabetes mellitus complicated by PDR requiring surgical intervention for tractional retinal detachment, subtotal or total vitreous hemorrhage, or tractional diabetic macular edema (DME). Vitreous samples were collected from all patients at the first stage of vitrectomy and one month after surgery.

Results: One month after surgery, the level of the pro-inflammatory cytokine vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) decreased from 203.8±228.0 to 113±95 pg/ml; however, the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.307). A significant reduction was observed in the concentrations of the following pro-inflammatory biomarkers: bFGF, CTACK, Eotaxin, HGF, IL-1β, -1α, -4, -12 (p40), -16, -18, IL-2Rα, IP-10, MIG, SCF, SCGF-β, SDF-1α, MIF, and M-CSF.

Conclusion: The main effect of vitrectomy on pro-inflammatory cytokines is reduction of their concentration, which confirms the buffering role of the vitreous body in the accumulation of molecular biomarkers in diabetic retinopathy.