Plasma dopamine and catecholamine levels in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate plasma dopamine and catecholamine levels in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective study, 32 patients with acute CSCR were included, along with 32 age- and gender-matched healthy controls without CSCR. Complete ophthalmologic examinations were performed. Plasma dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine levels were measured in the morning after 8-12hours of fasting. A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: While the mean age of the CSCR group was 40.12±7.96 years, the mean age of the control group was 37.81±7.26 years. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of age or gender (P=0.229, P=0.740, respectively). The plasma dopamine level was 29.85±9.39pg/ml in the CSCR group and 23.93±7.33pg/ml in the control group (P=0.001). The plasma epinephrine level was 60.73±25.69pg/ml in the CSCR group and 45.77±18.55pg/ml in the control group (P=0.021). The plasma norepinephrine level was 206.68±71.51pg/ml in the CSCR group and 149.33±49.69pg/ml in the control group (P=0.001). Plasma dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine levels were statistically significantly higher in the CSCR group. CONCLUSION: We concluded that dopamine may be a possible factor in the etiology of CSCR, both through its receptors and by enhancing sympathetic activity.

Plasma cerebellin levels in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate levels of plasma cerebellin, cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study included 30 patients diagnosed with acute CSC (Group 1) and a control group of 30 age-matched, healthy subjects without CSC (Group 2). Levels of plasma cerebellin, cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline were examined in blood samples taken after 8-12hours of fasting. A value of p<0.05 was considered statistically significant in the comparative analyses. RESULTS: The mean plasma cerebellin level was found to be 232.56±113.28 pg/ml in Group 1 and 174.07±82.04 pg/ml in Group 2 (p=0.02). Mean plasma cortisol was 13.19±3.87µg/ml in Group 1 and 9.55±2.92µg/ml in Group 2 (p<0.01). Mean plasma adrenaline was 60.62±26.67 pg/ml in Group 1 and 46.17±19.20 pg/ml in Group 2 (p=0.03). Mean plasma noradrenaline was 206.66±73.90 pg/ml in Group 1 and 149.96±51.36 pg/ml in Group 2 (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that increased cerebellin may have a role in the etiology of CSC by increasing catecholamine expression from the adrenal medulla and indirectly by increasing cortisol levels via a paracrine effect from the adrenal cortex.