Relationship Between Levels of Connective Tissue Growth Factor in Subretinal Fluid and Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy

Objective: To detect the expression of the connective tissue growth factor(CTGF) in subretinal fluid(SRF) of patients with rhegmatogenous reinal detachment(RRD),and to determine its relation to the severity of proliferative vitreoretinopathy.Methods: Samples of SRF were collected from 38 eyes of 38 patients with RRD.Concentrations of CTGF were measured by ELISA procedure.Results: CTGF existed in all 38 cases of SRF.The mean levels of CTGF were higher in patients with PVR than in those without.The levels of CTGF in SRF were positively correlated with the extent of PVR(P0.01).This study also indicated that the concentration of CTGF positively correlated with the change of duration of diseases and extent of RRD(P0.01 and P0.05,respectively),and not correlated with sex and size of the tear.Conclusion: CTGF has a promotive effect on the proliferation of cells and contraction of membrane during the formation of PVR.It is considered that the CTGF may be one of the cytokines which might accelerate and aggravate PVR and may be a therapeutic target for prevention of PVR.