AIM:To investigate the expression levels of stroma cell-derived factor-l(SDF-1)and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)in tissue of pterygium and to evaluate the effect of glucocorticoid on the expression of SDF-1.

METHODS: Fourty-eight eyes of pterygium were recruited, and 24 of them were chosen randomly to use 0.2g/L fluorometholone eyedrops for a week before surgery. The expressions of SDF-1 and VEGF were detected by immunohistochemistry in pterygium and normal conjunctival tissue. The software IPP was applied to the quantitative determination of the optical density of SDF-1 and VEGF.

RESULTS: SDF-1 and VEGF only had expression or no expression in the basal layer of epithelial cells in normal conjunctiva, but expressed in the whole layer of epithelial cells and vascular endothelial cells in pterygium. Differences in expression levels between them were statistically significant. The expression of VEGF and SDF-1 in pterygium presented a significant correlation(r=0.5235, P<0.01). The expression levels of SDF-1 and VEGF in pterygium was significantly decreased after using glucocorticoid, thus there was statistic difference.

CONCLUSION:Both SDF-1 and VEGF have important links with the development of pterygium. Glucocorticoid may inhibit neovascularization through decreasing expression levels of SDF-1 and VEGF.