Author(s)

Waled Mahdy Nada¹, Doaa Attia Abdel-Moety²

¹Ophthalmology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.
²Physiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.

Purpose: The study aimed to evaluate and correlate between the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in serum and aqueous humor in cases of neovascular glaucoma (NVG) to stand up on if it can be used as a marker for early detection of such cases. Methods: This observational case control study included 60 eyes, divided into 3 groups, group A of 30 eyes presented by cataract of different causes (not diabetic patients and no signs of NVG) as a control group and group B of 30 eyes with NVG due to different causes, group C of the same eyes in group B but after one month of treatment by intravitreal bevacizumab and laser treatment by pan retinal photocoagulation (PRP). Serum VEGF was estimated in all groups, also aqueous humor VEGF was estimated in group A and B only. In addition glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was estimated in group B; statistical analysis of the results was performed. Results: The study revealed that the commonest cause of NVG was proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) in 26 cases (86.7%), HbA1c in group B revealed mean value 7.68% ± 2.75%. Serum VEFG level in the group B of cases of NVG was significantly higher than the control group A (P < 0.001), and moderate significantly lower than group C of treated NVG by intravitreal bevacizumab injection and PRP (P < 0.05). Also aqueous VEGF level in group B was increased significantly from control group A (P < 0.001). In group B, the study reported a positive correlation between serum VEGF (S-VEGF) and aqueous humor VEGF (A-VEGF) levels (r = 0.638) with a high significant result (P < 0.001). Also, there was positive correlation between HbA1c and VEGF in serum (r = 0.409) with a moderate significant result (P < 0.05) But there was no correlation between HbA1c and VEGF in aqueous humor (r = 0.327) with an insignificant result (P > 0.05). Conclusions: VEGF is considered a good marker for the NVG either in serum or aqueous humor, laser treatment and the use of anti-VEGF are crucial treatment for such cases, and also glycemic control is a must for regulation of the vascular process in diabetic patients for prevention of such ocular neovascularization.

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), Neovascular Glaucoma, Anti-VEGF, Diabetic Retinopathy

Nada, W. and Abdel-Moety, D. (2017) Evaluation of Serum and Aqueous Humor Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Neovascular Glaucoma. Open Journal of Ophthalmology, 7, 79-87. doi: 10.4236/ojoph.2017.72012.