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Diabetic retinopathy

VEGF Plays Key Role in Angiogenesis, Complicating Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Diabetic Retinopathy

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Researchers at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley have highlighted the crucial role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR). According to the study, VEGF promotes retinal neovascularization and intraretinal fluid accumulation in DR, leading to complications like diabetic macular edema (DME) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). The study's findings emphasize the need for continued research to develop more effective therapies to prevent vision loss and blindness associated with these retinal diseases.

Key Takeaways:

  • VEGF is a key player in angiogenesis, influencing various physiological and pathological processes, including tumor growth, preeclampsia, and retinal diseases.
  • Regular intravitreal anti-VEGF injections are commonly used to manage PDR and DME, although repeated treatments are often required, and efficacy can be limited.
  • AMD is characterized by either dry or wet forms, with the dry form not influenced by VEGF, whereas the choroidal neovascularization of wet AMD has a strong association with VEGF.
  • Current treatment for wet AMD consists primarily of anti-VEGF injections, the gold standard of care, but is limited by varying patient responses, with treatments often repeated every 4-8 weeks indefinitely.
  • The study emphasizes the need for continued research to develop more effective therapies to prevent vision loss and blindness associated with DR and AMD.
  • The researchers identified Andrew Tsin, Andrew Callan, Justin Heckman, Giani Tah, Samantha Lopez, and Laura Valdez as co-authors of the study.
  • The study was financially supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the USA.
  • The extracted keywords include Edinburg, Texas, United States, Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Diabetic Angiopathies, Diabetic Retinopathy, Eye Diseases and Conditions, Health and Medicine, Macular Degeneration, Neovascularization, Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases and Conditions, Ophthalmology, Retinal Degeneration, Retinal Diseases and Conditions, Retinopathy, Vascular Diseases and Conditions, and University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

Statistics:

  • The study highlighted the widespread issue of AMD, a major cause of vision loss in older adults.
  • VEGF plays a key role in both DR and AMD, promoting retinal neovascularization and intraretinal fluid accumulation.
  • Diabetic retinopathy affects an estimated 80 million people worldwide (Source: International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025;26(11)).
  • The study emphasized the need for continued research to develop more effective therapies to prevent vision loss and blindness associated with DR and AMD.
  • The study's authors, including Andrew Tsin, Andrew Callan, Justin Heckman, Giani Tah, Samantha Lopez, and Laura Valdez, were affiliated with the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, School of Medicine, Edinburg, TX 78539, United States.

Sources:

  • Vegf In Diabetic Retinopathy and Age-related Macular Degeneration. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025;26(11).
  • NewsRx. Reports from University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Highlight Recent Findings in Age-Related Macular Degeneration (Vegf In Diabetic Retinopathy and Age-related Macular Degeneration). Health & Medicine Week. July 11, 2025; p 319.

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