Aqueous cytokines as predictors of macular edema in nondiabetic patients following uncomplicated phacoemulsification cataract surgery

Purpose: To ascertain whether cytokines in the aqueous humor can predict macular edema (ME) in non-diabetic patients following uncomplicated phacoemulsification cataract surgery. Methods: Undiluted aqueous humor samples were obtained from 288 consecutive non-diabetic patients (288 eyes; 132 men and 156 women) who underwent cataract surgery. Macular edema was defined as an increase in the foveal center point thickness (FCPT) more than 30% from the preoperative baseline using optical coherence tomography 4 weeks after cataract surgery. The concentrations of 27 cytokines were measured in aqueous humor samples using the multiplex bead immunoassay. Results: No major intraoperative complications occurred. The incidence of ME was 8.13% (23 patients) 4 weeks after cataract surgery. Compared to the ME (-) patients, the concentrations of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta; p=0.016), IL-6 (p= 0.013), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1; p=0.030), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF; p=0.033) in the ME (+) patients were significantly higher. In addition, the aqueous humor levels of IL-1 beta (r=0.376), IL-6 (r=0.418), MCP-1 (r=0.348), and VEGF (r=0.375) positively correlated with the postoperative FCPT. However, the aqueous humor levels of IL-10 (p=0.017) were significantly lower in patients with ME and were negatively correlated with the postoperative FCPT (r=-0.424). Conclusions: IL-1 beta, IL-6, MCP-1, VEGF, and IL-10 may be potential predictors of postoperative macular thickness in non-diabetic patients following uncomplicated phacoemulsification cataract surgery.