Purpose To quantify the levels of three inflammatory cytokines in the aqueous humour of patients with prior acute primary angle closure (APAC) and investigate their correlation with surgical outcomes of trabeculectomy. Methods In this prospective cohort study, aqueous humour samples were collected from 44 prior APAC eyes. Analyte concentrations of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured using multiplexed immunoassay kits. Intraocular pressure was measured using Goldmann application tonometry. Results Forty-four prior APAC eyes were followed up for 24 months after trabeculectomy and divided into success and failure groups according to surgical outcomes. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) levels in the aqueous humour were significantly higher in the failure group (p = 0.0118). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that MCP-1 level was a significant risk factor for trabeculectomy outcomes (univariate analysis: p = 0.016, odds ratio = 14.538; multivariate analysis: p = 0.023, odds ratio = 13.718). When prior APAC eyes were divided according to MCP-1 levels, the overall success rate was significantly higher in eyes with low MCP-1 levels than eyes with high MCP-1 levels (p = 0.0249). Conclusion In prior APAC patients, the MCP-1 level in the aqueous humour predicts trabeculectomy results. Therefore, modulation of MCP-1 expression may have potential clinical applications after filtration surgery.
