To investigate cytokine levels in the tear fluid of patients receiving serial intravitreal injections (IVI) with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Concentrations of six cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF and VEGF) in tears of patients receiving anti-VEGF in one eye were assayed using multiplex cytometric bead array. The fellow untreated eye served as control. Tear sampling was performed on a single occasion at a minimum of four weeks after IVI. Patients underwent a pre-IVI antisepsis protocol with povidone-iodine. Tear fluid from thirty patients with a mean age of 78.8 years (range 58–90) was assayed. Subjects received a median of 43.5 (range 22–106) IVI in one eye. The median level of IFN-γ was 0.33 (interquartile range (IQR) 0.22–0.52) pg/mg of total protein in injected eyes versus 0.41 (IQR 0.21–1.05) pg/mg in fellow eyes (p = 0.017). For TNF, a median level of 0.12 (IQR 0.08–0.18) pg/mg of total protein was found in injected eyes versus 0.14 (IQR 0.07–0.33) pg/mg of total protein in fellow eyes (p = 0.019). There were no differences between injected and fellow eyes regarding the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF. Tear fluid in eyes receiving serial IVI with anti-VEGF and preoperative povidone-iodine antisepsis constitutes lower levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and TNF compared to fellow eyes. This provides biochemical support of previous findings of reduced signs of inflammation and healthier tear film parameters in patients treated with serial IVI.

中文翻译：

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玻璃体内注射治疗的患者泪液细胞因子水平降低


旨在调查接受抗血管内皮生长因子（抗 VEGF）连续玻璃体内注射（IVI）治疗新生血管性年龄相关性黄斑变性（nAMD）的患者泪液中的细胞因子水平。使用多重细胞计数珠阵列测定一只眼睛接受抗 VEGF 治疗的患者泪液中六种细胞因子（IFN-γ、IL-1β、IL-6、IL-8、TNF 和 VEGF）的浓度。另一只未经治疗的眼睛作为对照。 IVI 后至少四个星期进行一次泪液取样。患者接受了IVI前聚维酮碘消毒方案。对 30 名平均年龄为 78.8 岁（范围 58-90 岁）的患者的泪液进行了分析。受试者一只眼睛接受的 IVI 中位数为 43.5（范围 22-106）。注射眼的 IFN-γ 总蛋白中位水平为 0.33（四分位距 (IQR) 0.22–0.52) pg/mg，而另一眼则为 0.41 (IQR 0.21–1.05) pg/mg（p = 0.017）。对于 TNF，注射眼中总蛋白的中位水平为 0.12 (IQR 0.08–0.18) pg/mg，而其他眼中总蛋白的中位水平为 0.14 (IQR 0.07–0.33) pg/mg (p = 0.019)。注射眼和正常眼之间的 IL-1β、IL-6、IL-8 和 VEGF 水平没有差异。与其他眼睛相比，接受抗 VEGF 连续 IVI 和术前聚维酮碘消毒的眼睛的泪液中促炎细胞因子 IFN-γ 和 TNF 的水平较低。这为之前的研究结果提供了生化支持，即接受连续 IVI 治疗的患者炎症迹象减少且泪膜参数更健康。