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Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2003; 111(4): 209-214
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-40465
Article

J. A. Barth Verlag in Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Diabetic Patients and Retinal Proliferation: An Evaluation of the Role of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)

V. G. Nicoletti 1 , R. Nicoletti 2 , N. Ferrara 3 , G. Meli 1 , M. Reibaldi 4 , A. Reibaldi 2
  • 1Department of Chemical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
  • 2Department of Surgical and Medical Specialties, Section of Ophthalmology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
  • 3Department of Molecular Oncology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
  • 4Department of Surgical and Medical Specialties, Section of Ophthalmology. University of Bari, Bari, Italy
Further Information

Publication History

Received: December 30, 2001 First decision: March 5, 2002

Accepted: September 8, 2002

Publication Date:
07 July 2003 (online)

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Abstract

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been shown to play a major role in intraocular neovascularisation in ischaemic retinal diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentration of VEGF in vitreous, aqueous and epiretinal membranes of diabetic and non-diabetic patients, with other pathological conditions requiring surgical intervention. Higher VEGF concentration were found in samples from the eyes of diabetic patients versus other pathologies as well as in epiretinal membranes versus the other eye compartments in diabetic patients. However, high VEGF levels were also found in retinal detachment and proliferative vitreoretinopathy of non-diabetic patients. We concluded that VEGF is produced locally and plays a fundamental, but not specific, role in diabetic retinal neovascularisation and proliferation.

Key words

VEGF - Diabetic retinopathy - retinal proliferation

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Prof. Alfredo Reibaldi

Department of Surgical and Medical Specialties
Section of Ophthalmology
University of Catania

Via G. Clementi 36

95100 Catania

Italy

Phone: + 390957435723

Fax: + 39 0 95 31 29 17

Email: Clinica.Oculistica@mbox.unict.it