Increased vascular endothelial growth factor level in the subretinal fluid of eye with vasoproliferative retinal tumors.

PURPOSE:To describe a level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the subretinal fluid obtained from a case with vasoproliferative retinal tumors (VPRTs). METHODS:A 30-year-old male patient presented with VPRTs subsequent to long-standing rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. RESULTS:The patient was treated with encircling scleral buckling, cryopexy, and intravitreal bevacizumab injection. The protein level of VEGF in the subretinal fluid was measured and compared with those in the subretinal fluid obtained from patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Vascular endothelial growth factor level in the subretinal fluid from a patient with VPRTs was 12,997.9 pg/mL, whereas the mean VEGF concentration in the subretinal fluid from 4 patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment was 2.1 ± 2.8 pg/mL. CONCLUSION:The current data provide the evidence that VEGF production has increased in eyes with VPRTs and anti-VEGF therapy is theoretically effective for the treatment of VPRTs.