The significance of some growth factors in the pathogenesis of endocrine ophthalmopathy

Aim. The purpose of this work was to study the role of transforming growth factors (TGF-β, FGF-2, VEGF-A) during endocrine ophthalmopathy (EOC). Materials and methods. The study 119 patients with endocrine ophthalmopathy were examined, at the age of 48 [30; 56] years. There were 56 men (47%). The comparison groups were control group (Control) - 20 practically healthy persons, comparison group (Comparison group) - 20 patients with autoimmune pathology of the thyroid gland without EOC. All groups were comparable by sex and age. The object of the study was serum and tear fluid. To quantify the transforming growth factors (TGF-β, FGF-2, VEGF-A) in the blood and tear fluid, the enzyme immunoassay kit was used by Biokhimmak LLC. The severity of the disease was exhibited according to the current classification. The statistical processing of the obtained data was carried out using the program Statistica 6.1. Results. An increase in the concentration of all growth factors in blood serum and tear fluid was found in patients with endocrine ophthalmopathy, compared with a group of healthy individuals. It was noted that in the lacrimal fluid the increase in the concentration of the growth factors studied was associated with the severity of the disease and the activity of the process. The multidirectional dynamics of the content of the vascular endothelial growth factor was established, so the maximum value in the blood serum was determined in patients with mild severity in an inactive form, in the tear the highest rates were recorded in severe form of the active disease. Conclusion. In patients with endocrine ophthalmopathy, the concentration of FGF-2 and TGF-β in the blood serum and tear increased to a greater extent in severe forms of the disease in the active phase. The maximum concentrations of FGF-2 and TGF-β in the serum and tear, VEGF-A in the tear are fixed in the active phase of the severe form of the endocrine ophthalmopathy. The results obtained allow us to regard FGF-2, TGF-β and VEGF-A as biological markers of gravity and endocrine ophthalmopathy activity.