Increased levels of transforming growth factor-betal and-beta2 in the aqueous humor of patients with neovascular glaucoma

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To measure the concentrations of transforming growth factor-betal and beta2 (TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2) in the aqueous humor of patients with neovascular glaucoma (NVG). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were divided into four groups: NVG secondary to central retinal vein occlusion (group 1), NVG secondary to proliferative diabetic retinopathy (group 2), central retinal vein occlusion without rubeosis (group 3), and senile cataract (group 4). The total TGF-betal and TGF-beta2 concentrations in the aqueous humor of the four groups were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The mean concentrations of total TGF-beta1 were 600.7 +/- 436.7 mu g/mL in group 1, 802.0 +/- 359.5 mu g/mL in group 2, and undetectable in groups 3 and group 4 (P < .05). The mean concentrations of total TGF-beta2 were 6,307.9 +/- 2,206.2 mu g/mL in group 1, 5,908.0 +/- 2,033.2 mu g/mL in group 2, 899.7 +/- 425.6 mu g/mL in group 3, and 385.7 +/- 189.9 mu g/mL in group 4. The total TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 concentrations in groups I and 2 were significantly higher than those in groups 3 and 4, whereas the total TGF-beta2 concentration in group 3 was significantly higher than that in group 4 (P < .05). There was no significant difference in the TGF-beta1 or TGF-beta2 concentrations in groups 1 and 2 were significantly higher than those in groups 3 and 4, whereas the total TGF-beta2 concentration in group 3 was significantly higher than that in group 4 (P <.05). There was no significant difference in the TGF-beta1 or TGF-beta2 concentrations between groups 1 and 2 (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: The abnormally high concentrations of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 in the aqueous humor of patients with NVG may explain some aspects of the pathogenesis of NVG and the high failure rate of filtering operations in NVG.