Tear film levels of interleukin- (IL-) 6, IL-8, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were investigated over time, and preoperative concentrations were linked to corneal neovascularization and pterygium size.
The use of single intra lesional injection of Avastin in pterygium decreased vascularity and decreased VEGF expression in injected pterygium after one month.
Antibodies raised against VEGF and p53 were used to analyze the distribution and expression of these markers in pterygium and normal human conjunctiva were used as negative control.
Other findings in pterygium include the frequent detection of HPV DNA, ocular surface changes such as the overexpression of various proteins, including defensins and phospolipases D, as well as the up-regulation of growth factors, such as bFGF or VEGF.
There were no significant differences between pterygium and control groups in age, sex, and distribution of genotype and allelic frequency of VEGF-460 polymorphism.
In analysis of specimens from pterygium patients as well as normal conjunctivas, VEGF121 and VEGF165 were identified as the only VEGF splice forms expressed.