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Malmin A, Thomseth VM, Førland PT, Aass HCD, Reppe S, Olsen MVT, Lindtjørn B, Chen X, Haugen IBK, Utheim TP, Forsaa VA. Tear cytokine levels are reduced in patients treated with intravitreal injections. Ocul Surf 2024; 32:222-226. [PMID: 38490478 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtos.2024.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate cytokine levels in the tear fluid of patients receiving serial intravitreal injections (IVI) with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). METHODS Concentrations of six cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF and VEGF) in tears of patients receiving anti-VEGF in one eye were assayed using multiplex cytometric bead array. The fellow untreated eye served as control. Tear sampling was performed on a single occasion at a minimum of four weeks after IVI. Patients underwent a pre-IVI antisepsis protocol with povidone-iodine. RESULTS Tear fluid from thirty patients with a mean age of 78.8 years (range 58-90) was assayed. Subjects received a median of 43.5 (range 22-106) IVI in one eye. The median level of IFN-γ was 0.33 (interquartile range (IQR) 0.22-0.52) pg/mg of total protein in injected eyes versus 0.41 (IQR 0.21-1.05) pg/mg in fellow eyes (p = 0.017). For TNF, a median level of 0.12 (IQR 0.08-0.18) pg/mg of total protein was found in injected eyes versus 0.14 (IQR 0.07-0.33) pg/mg of total protein in fellow eyes (p = 0.019). There were no differences between injected and fellow eyes regarding the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF. CONCLUSION Tear fluid in eyes receiving serial IVI with anti-VEGF and preoperative povidone-iodine antisepsis constitutes lower levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and TNF compared to fellow eyes. This provides biochemical support of previous findings of reduced signs of inflammation and healthier tear film parameters in patients treated with serial IVI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agni Malmin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
| | - Vilde M Thomseth
- Department of Ophthalmology, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway; Department of Quality and Health Technology, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway
| | - Per T Førland
- Department of Ophthalmology, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway
| | - Hans C D Aass
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sjur Reppe
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Markus V T Olsen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway
| | - Birger Lindtjørn
- Department of Ophthalmology, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway
| | - Xiangjun Chen
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital of Southern Norway, Arendal, Norway; Department of Ophthalmology, Vestre Viken Hospital Trust, Drammen, Norway
| | - Inga B K Haugen
- The Norwegian Association of the Blind and Partially Sighted, Oslo, Norway
| | - Tor P Utheim
- Department of Ophthalmology, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Medical Biochemistry, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital of Southern Norway, Arendal, Norway; Department of Ophthalmology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Vegard A Forsaa
- Department of Ophthalmology, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Quality and Health Technology, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway
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