Aqueous Humour Cytokine Changes with Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant Injection for Diabetic Macular Edema

Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2019;27(8):1203-1210. doi: 10.1080/09273948.2019.1636095. Epub 2019 Aug 16.

Abstract

Purpose: To assess changes in aqueous humor (AH) levels of cytokines following dexamethasone intravitreal implant (DEX) injection for diabetic macular edema (DME).Methods: Sixteen DME and cataract cases series study. Anterior chamber AH sampling was performed at baseline at DEX injection time (T1), cataract surgery 8 weeks afterward (T2), and whenever DME relapsed (T3) in order to assess changes in IL-1β, IL-3, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, MCP-1, IP-10, TNF-α, and VEGF levels.Results: IP-10 and MCP-1 levels significantly decreased at T2 (p = .034 and p = .044, respectively) compared to baseline (T1). Relapsed DME cases (T3) showed significantly higher levels of IL-6 (p = .028), IL-8 (p = .005), IP-10 (p = .013) and MCP-1 (p = .005) compared to T2.Conclusion: IP-10 and MCP-1 AH levels seem to be related to DEX intraocular action, decreasing after injection and increasing when DME relapses. In addition, IL-6 and IL-8 may play a role in DME late evolution and clinical relapse beyond DEX effect.

Keywords: Aqueous humour; chemokine; cytokine; diabetic macular edema; intravitreal dexamethasone implant.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aqueous Humor / metabolism*
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Cytokines
  • Dexamethasone / administration & dosage*
  • Diabetic Retinopathy / complications*
  • Diabetic Retinopathy / diagnosis
  • Diabetic Retinopathy / drug therapy
  • Drug Implants
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Glucocorticoids / administration & dosage
  • Humans
  • Intravitreal Injections
  • Macula Lutea / pathology
  • Macular Edema / drug therapy*
  • Macular Edema / etiology
  • Macular Edema / metabolism
  • Male
  • Pilot Projects
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Visual Acuity*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Cytokines
  • Drug Implants
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Dexamethasone