AIM: To measure the levels of IL-8 and IL-12p70 in the aqueous humor of patients with primary acute angle-closure glaucoma(AACG)and age-related cataract(ARC), and to investigate the clinical significance.

METHODS:Totally 29 eyes of 29 AACG patients, and 17 eyes of 17 ARC patients were enrolled in the study from October 2019 to December 2020. The levels of IL-8 and IL-12p70 were measured in the aqueous humor using Cytometric Beads Array. The clinical information was recorded in the same time for the correlation.

RESULTS:The level of IL-8 in AACG group was statistically elevated compared with the control group(Z= -5.384, P<0.05). However the IL-12p70 level did not differ in AACG group compared with ARC group(Z= -1.587, P=0.112). The IL-8 level was positively correlated with the duration of acute attack(r_s=0.387, P=0.038). The concentrations of IL-8 and IL-12p70 in the filtration surgery group were significantly increased than that of the non-filtration surgery group(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: The level of the inflammatory factor IL-8 in the aqueous humor of patients with AACG was significantly elevated. With the progression of the disease, the concentration of the immune-related factor IL-12p70 increased differentially. Both inflammation and immunity may play an important role in the pathogenesis of AACG.