AIM:To measure levels of various inflammation-related cytokines in the aqueous humor of patients with neovascular glaucoma(NVG)and age-related cataract, and to evaluate changes in these cytokines before and after an intravitreal injection of ranibizumab.

METHODS:This study investigated 21 eyes of 21 patients with NVG and 20 eyes of 20 control subjects with age-related cataract. The NVG eyes received an intravitreal injection of ranibizumab treatment before Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation. Aqueous humor was collected before intravitreal injection of ranibizumab and before Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation. Aqueous humor samples were collected from the cataract patients at the time of cataract surgery. The levels of inflammation-related cytokines in the aqueous humor were measured with a Multiplex bead immunoassay technique.

RESULTS:The NVG eyes showed significantly elevated concentrations of interleukin(IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, monocyte chemotactic protein-1(MCP-1), and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)(all P<0.001)when compared with the eyes of the cataract patients. Following the intravitreal injection of ranibizumab, the concentrations of IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, and VEGF in the NVG eyes showed a dramatic and statistically significant decrease. The correlations between the levels of inflammation-related cytokines and age, intraocular pressure(IOP)before operations in the NVG patients did not reach statistical significance.

CONCLUSION:The inflammation-related cytokines were significantly elevated in NVG eyes. Intravitreal injection of ranibizumab dramatically and significantly reduced the levels of some inflammation-related cytokines.