Neuron specific enolase in retinal detachment

Purpose. Neuron Specific Enolase (NSE) is released following central nervous system (CNS) distress. As retina is part of the CNS, NSE levels were measured in the subretinal fluid (SRF), aqueous, and serum of patients with primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RD). Methods. Radioimmunoassay was used to determine NSE levels in the SRF, aqueous, and serum of 13 patients (28-92 years old, mean = 71 years) with RD. As controls, NSE was measured in the aqueous of 6 patients undergoing cataract surgery and in serum of 18 patients without ophthalmological or neurological diseases. Results. SRF levels of NSE ranged from 50-200 mug/l (mean +/- s.d. = 150 +/- 57). NSE levels in aqueous from patients with RD were 2-140 mug/l (mean +/- s.d. = 39 +/- 42), significantly higher than in controls (0-6 mug/l; mean +/- s.d. = 1.58 +/- 2.24; p = 0.04). Serum NSE levels in RD patients ranged from 6.5-80 mug/l (mean +/- s.d. = 26 +/- 21) and was significantly higher than in controls (5.3 +/- 1.66 mug/l; p = 0.005). Conclusions. Retinal neuron injury in retinal detachment (RD) releases sufficient Neuron Specific Enolase (NSE) to be detected in subretinal fluid, aqueous, and even in serum. Thus, NSE could index disease severity in RD and provide a means by which to assess the response to neuroprotection in RD.