Hepatocyte growth factor levels in the vitreous of patients with proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

Abstract

To determine whether the hepatocyte growth factor is increased in the vitreous of patients with proliferative vitreoretinopathy. We assayed hepatocyte growth factor levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in vitreous samples from 65 consecutive eyes (65 patients) with proliferative vitreoretinopathy (23 eyes), rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (22 eyes), and macular hole or idiopathic epiretinal membrane (control subjects, 20 eyes) having undergone pars plana vitrectomy. Vitreous levels of hepatocyte growth factor were 3.94 +/- 2.29 (mean +/- SD) ng/ml in proliferative vitreoretinopathy, 2.02 +/- 0.84 ng/ml in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, and 2.16 +/- 1.39 ng/ml in the control subjects. The vitreous levels in proliferative vitreoretinopathy were much greater than levels in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (P =.0002) and in the control subjects (P =.0007). In proliferative vitreoretinopathy, there was a tendency toward higher levels in eyes with grade D by the Retina Society terminology. The results suggest the possibility that hepatocyte growth factor may play a role in the pathogenesis of proliferative vitreoretinopathy.