Hepatocyte growth factor levels in the vitreous of patients with proliferative vitreoretinopathy

PURPOSE::To determine whether the hepatocyte growth factor is increased in the vitreous of patients with proliferative vitreoretinopathy. METHODS: We assayed hepatocyte growth factor levels by enzyme linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) in vitreous Samples from 65 consecutive eyes (65 pati ents) with proliferative vitreoretinopathy (23 eyes), rhegmatogenous-retina l detachment (22 eyes), and macular hole or idiopathic epiretinal membrane (control subjects, 20 eyes) having undergone pars plana vitrectomy, RESULTS: Vitreous levels of hepatocyte growth factor were 3.94 +/- 2.29 (me an a SD) ng/ml in proliferative vitreoretinopathy, 2.02 +/- 0.84 ng/ml in r hegmatogenous retinal detachment, and 2.16 +/- 1.39 ng/ml in the control su bjects. The vitreous levels in proliferative vitreoretinopathy: were much g reater than levels in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (P = .0002) and in the control subjects (P = .0007). In proliferative vitreoretinopathy, there was a tendency toward higher levels in eyes with grade D by the Retina Soc iety terminology, CONCLUSION: The results suggest the possibility that hepatocyte growth fact or may play a role in the patho genesis of proliferative vitreoretinopathy. (C) 2000 by Elsevier Science Inc, All rights reserved.