Purpose: To determine the concentration of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) in the aqueous humor of eyes with neuroretinal dystrophy.
Design: Observational case series.
Methods: Aqueous humor was obtained from patients during cataract surgery, and the PEDF concentration in the aqueous humor was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The primary diagnosis was cataract in 162 eyes; of these there were five eyes with retinitis pigmentosa, nine eyes with advanced glaucoma, and 148 eyes with cataract alone.
Results: The mean levels of PEDF in eyes with retinitis pigmentosa (0.24 +/- 0.04 microg/ml, mean +/- SE, P =.0004) and advanced glaucoma (0.46 +/- 0.08 microg/ml, P =.003) were significantly lower than that in eyes with cataract alone (0.86 +/- 0.04 microg/ml).
Conclusion: The lower levels of PEDF in eyes with neuroretinal dystrophy may be related to the loss of the retinal ganglion cells or retinal pigment epithelium cells that synthesize PEDF.