Purpose: To evaluate the concentration and molecular weight of hyaluronan (HA) polysaccharides as well as hyaluronidase activity in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD).
Methods: Twenty vitreous samples from 20 patients with RRD and 19 samples from 19 patients with idiopathic epiretinal membrane, macular hole, or vitreomacular traction syndrome were collected during surgical management with pars plana vitrectomy. The molecular weight of various HA fragments was assessed using agarose gel electrophoresis. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed for the measurement of HA (in μg/mL). Hyaluronidase activity was evaluated using substrate (HA) sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.
Results: Agarose gel electrophoresis showed that the vitreous of the control group contained HA of high molecular mass, in contrast with the patient group. Mean HA concentration in the patient group was 50.96 μg/mL and differed significantly from that of the control group, which was 271.81 μg/mL (p<0.0005). Hyaluronidase activity was significantly higher in the vitreous of patients with RRD (p = 0.037).
Conclusions: The vitreous of patients with RRD is characterized by decreased HA concentration compared to controls of the same age and sex and shows higher hyaluronidase catalytic activity. Hyaluronan degradation could be associated with specific vitreous alterations that potentially contribute to retinal break formation and consequently detachment.