AIM:To analyze the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)in vitreous humor of patients with age-related macular degeneration(ARMD)and its relationship with inflammation.

METHODS:Clinical data of 61 patients with ARMD(61 eyes)received treatment at our hospital from September 2016 to September 2017 were analyzed as Group A. And 25 idiopathic macular hole(IMH)patients(25 eyes)were enrolled as Group B. VEGF, IL-6 and IL-10 levels in vitreous humor were tested and compared between the two group.

RESULTS: Group A patients had higher levels of VEGF and IL-6 in vitreous humor than these of Group B patients, the difference were statistically significant(t=32.530, 8.443; P<0.01). The level of IL-10 between the two groups was not significantly different(P>0.05). ROC analysis showed that the VEGF cut-off point value of 460.6pg/mL, as used for the differential diagnosis between ARMD and IMH, provided a sensitivity of 84.00%, a specificity of 93.44%, area under the curve(AUC)was 0.879, better than these of IL-6. Correlation analysis showed that, for Group A patients, the levels of VEGF had significant positive correlation with IL-6(r=0.787, P<0.01).

CONCLUSION: The level of VEGF increased significantly in patients with ARMD and had positive correlation with inflammation, which can be used as an auxiliary diagnosis marker for ARMD from IMH.