Zeitschrift für klinische und experimentelle Ophthalmologie
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Analysis of Cytokines in Presumed Acute Infectious Endophthalmitis Following Cataract Extraction

Paulo Escarião, Alessandra Goncalves Commodaro, Tiago Arantes, Célia M. M. B. de Castro, Maria de Fátima A. Diniz and Carlos Teixeira Brandt

Objective: To analyze the involvement of cytokines in acute infectious endophthalmitis following cataract extraction surgery.
Methods: Vitreous humor samples were collected from 18 patients. The multiplex technique was used to measure IL-1ra, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL-12 (p70), IL-13, IL-15, IL-17, basic FGF, eotaxin, GCSF, GM-CSF, IFN-γ, MCP-1, MIP-1a, MIP-1b, PDGF-BB, RANTES, TNF-α and VEGF for comparison with levels in 39 patients undergoing vitrectomy for a non-infectious disease (control).
Results: IL-1ra, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL-15, IL-17, eotaxin, bFGF, G-CSF, GM-CSF, IFN-γ, MCP-1, MIP-1a, MIP-1b, PDGF-BB, RANTES and TNF-α levels were significantly higher (p <0.05) in eyes with endophthalmitis. There were no significant differences between groups for IL-5, IL-12 (p70), IL-13 and VEGF levels. IL-7 levels were higher in the control group (p=0.0229). Considering the different diagnosis in the control group, only IL-5 was not significantly different between groups (p=0.1764). There was a positive correlation between TNF-α and the initial visual acuity (r=0.59, p=0.0096). There was no correlation with the final visual acuity for the cytokines measured. The concentration of IL-8 was higher in patients with endophthalmitis and positive cultures (p=0.0250).
Conclusions: Infectious endophthalmitis following cataract extraction stimulates the production of cytokines. Levels of TNF-α may be related to the severity of the initial inflammatory processes. IL-8 levels are correlated with positive bacterial cultures, suggesting that IL-8 could be used as a biomarker for bacterial infection.