Levels of cytokines in the aqueous humor guided treatment of refractory macular edema in adult-onset coats' disease

Background: Two cases with refractory macular edema secondary to adult-onset Coats' disease underwent unsatisfactory treatment by intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs and retinal photocoagulation.

Case presentation: The authors highlight the guiding effect of the measurement of cytokines in the aqueous humor for the treatment of adult-onset Coats' disease with refractory macular edema. In the two cases, typical Coats' disease changes, including telangiectasis, subretinal exudation and macular edema were observed. Initial treatment consisted of intravitreal anti-VEGF drugs and retinal laser photocoagulation; however, the response was poor. Then, the aqueous humor was acquired and the cytokine concentrations were measured (Flow Cytometry Analysis, Beijing Giantmed Medical Diagnostics Lab). When the cytokine levels were tested every time there would be quality control, with a fixed concentration of cytokines samples to detect before the results reported. A low level of VEGF and a high level of inflammatory cytokines were found. Then, treatment was switched to intravitreal injection of dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex®) (Allergan, Inc., Irvine, Calif., USA), which resulted in resolution of the refractory macular edema and improvement of visual acuity in both cases.

Conclusions: For refractory macular edema secondary to adult-onset Coats' disease, measurement of the levels of VEGF and inflammatory cytokines can help clinic doctors precisely investigate the molecular mechanism of macular edema and thereby find a suitable treatment.

Keywords: Adult-onset coats’ disease; Case report; Macular edema.