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

초록

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. Copyright 2025 The Authors.

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