Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the chemokines profile in patients treated for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) treated with anti-VEGF injections.

Methods: The study was conducted in a hospital in Sweden. Patients diagnosed with nAMD (ICD 10 Diagnosis Code H353) and who were scheduled for treatment with an intravitreal anti-VEGF injection were invited to take part. Patients must have had at least 3 injections prior to the invitation to the study (treat-and-extend or pro-re-nata regimen). Venous blood samples were collected before the injection according to clinical guidelines for phlebotomy using EDTA tubes. Samples were centrifuged at 3000 x g at 4°C for 15 minutes to isolate plasma. The chemokines in the plasma were analysed using a Bio-Plex Human Cytokine kit. Median concentrations for each chemokine were compared between the two groups.

Results: The study included data from one hundred and fifty patients with nAMD, a mean age of 79 years (range 56-98) and 101 (67%) were female. The median acuity in the better eye was 0.22 logMAR (IQR=0.36). The study also included data from 46 controls, mean age 75 years (range 85-71) and 26 (57%) were females. The analysis revealed significant differences in chemokines expression in the nAMD group compared to the control group. Amongst others, it revealed elevated expression of MCP-1 or CCL2 (p<0.001) and MIP-1alpha or CCL3 (p<0.001) and reduced expression for MIP-1beta or CCL4 (p<0.001).

Conclusions: Results of the current study reveal that patients with nAMD have differences in chemokine expression compared to controls. The chemokines which were altered in the patient group may be involved in disease relapse and interfere with the course of the disease during the treatment period.