Purpose: To investigate the relationship between αB-crystallin levels in the vitreous of patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) and correlate these levels with the presence of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) and to the extent of RRD.
Methods: Prospective, cross-sectional study. Vitreous samples were collected from twenty-six patients with RRD at the surgical repair. PVR was evaluated using the Updated Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy Grade Classification system. RRD area was measured using ultra-widefield retinal photographs. The concentration of αB-crystallin in the vitreous was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit.
Results: The average concentration of αB-crystallin was significantly higher in the PVR Grade B and C group (97.83 ± 69.47) than in the PVR (-) and Grade A group (39.43 ± 13.53 ng/mL, P = 0.005). The level of αB-crystallin was also significantly higher in patients with large RD area (RD area > 1/4, 85.52 ± 66.07 ng/mL) than in patients with small RD area (RD area ≤ 1/4, 39.20 ± 13.02 ng/mL, P = 0.016).
Conclusions: The level of αB-crystallin was significantly increased in the vitreous of RRD patients with high-grade PVR and large RD area. This finding suggests that αB-crystallin may function as an endogenous mediator in fibrotic processes in RRD patients.
Keywords: Epithelial–mesenchymal transition; Fibrosis; Proliferative vitreoretinopathy; Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment; αB-crystallin.