Nerve growth factor in patients with age-related cataract

Abstract

Purpose. To study the content of nerve growth factor (NGF) in the aqueous humor (AH), lacrimal fluid (LF), and blood serum (BS) in patients with age-related cataract.Material and methods. The content of NGF in the LF, AH and BS was studied in 47 patients (47 eyes) with age-related cataract. Collection of stimulated LF was performed with a pipette on the day preceding surgery; the AH and BS were sampled during the phacoemulsification of a cataract. The concentration of NGF was measured using an enzyme immunoassay.Results. The concentration of NGF in the AH was 27,6±12,8 (range 2,7–56,1) pg/ml, in the BS – 23,2±8,9 (5,9–41,6) pg/ml, in the LF – 85,3±23,3 (36,6–135,9) pg/ml. The concentration of NGF in the AH correlated well with its content in LF: Pearson’s correlation coefficient r was 0,526, p<0,000. The correlation of NGF concentrations in BS and AH was insignificant.Conclusion. In patients with age-related cataract, the highest level of NGF was detected in the LF, its concentration in AH and BS was more than three times lower. The NGF content in the AH significantly correlated only with its concentration in LF.

Keywords

• nerve growth factor
• lacrimal fluid
• aqueous humor
• blood serum
• age-related cataract