Levels of basic fibroblast growth factor, glutamine synthetase, and interleukin-6 in subretinal fluid from patients with retinal detachment

PURPOSE: To investigate the presence of basic fibro, blast growth factor, g lutamine synthetase activity, and interleukin-6 in subretinal fluid from pa tients with retinal detachment. METHODS: In a prospective study we measured basic fibroblast growth factor, glutamine synthetase activity, interleukin-6, and total protein in subreti nal fluid samples from 96 eyes from 94 consecutive patients with a retinal detachment corrected by a conventional scleral buckling operation in our cl inical practice. As controls, vitreous fluid samples from eyes with a macul ar hole (n = 6) or pucker (n = 11) were used. Laboratory data of the patien t group were compared with the control group and correlated with various cl inical data. RESULTS: Levels (median, range) of basic fibroblast growth factor, glutamin e synthetase activity, interleukin,6, and total protein were significantly higher in patients than in controls (P < .0001). An increased level of glut amine synthetase and total protein correlated with a longer duration of the retinal detachment (r = .4, P = .002, and r = .34, P = .001, respectively) . Interleukin,6 and basic fibroblast growth factor levels did not correlate with the duration of the detachment. After multivariate logistic regressio n analysis, no significant relation was found between any of the tested sub retinal proteins and a low visual outcome or redetachment. CONCLUSIONS: We found increased levels of basic fibroblast growth factor an d glutamine synthetase in subretinal fluid from patients with retinal detac hment. Basic fibroblast growth factor and glutamine synthetase may play a r ole in the pathogenesis and recovery after retinal detachment. The question s of whether the increased levels of basic fibroblast growth factor and glu tamine synthetase result from leakage of dying glia cells (including Muller cells) and neurons and if basic fibro, blast growth factor is actively pro duced to protect the photoreceptor cells need further research. (C) 2001 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.