Y. Mitamura et al., Macrophage migration inhibitory factor levels in the vitreous of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy, BR J OPHTH, 84(6), 2000, pp. 636-639
Aims-To assess the potential role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor
(MIF) in the pathogenesis of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).
Methods-MIF levels were assayed in the vitreous and paired serum samples of
73 consecutive patients with PDR (32 eyes) and macular hole or idiopathic
epiretinal membrane (controls, 41 eyes). An enzyme linked immunosorbent ass
ay technique was used to determine the concentrations of MIF.
Results-The median vitreous level of MIF was 11.93 ng/ml (range 4.16-103.85
) in the patients with PDR, and 1.79 ng/ml (undetectable-8.93) in the contr
ols. Vitreous levels in eyes with PDR were significantly greater than those
in the controls (p<0.0001). Vitreous levels were significantly higher than
serum levels in eyes with PDR (p=0.0026). MIF levels were significantly hi
gher in the vitreous of PDR patients with severe fibrous proliferation than
in those with slight proliferation (p<0.05).
Conclusion-The results indicate increased levels of MIF in the vitreous of
patients with PDR and a significant association between MIF levels and grad
es of fibrous proliferation, suggesting the possibility that MIF may play a
part in the development of the proliferative phase of PDR.