The inhibitory Effects of Mitomycin-C on the Development of Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy

Kim, Kwang Soo; Lee, Se Yup; Kim, Jong Hyun

Abstract

PURPOSE: To investigate the inhibitory effect of MMC on experimental PVR.
METHODS
The cultured rabbit fibroblasts were pretreated with 3microgram/L and 300microgram/L concentration of MMC for 30 minutes. MMC-treated and -untreated fibroblasts were injected into vitreous cavity of pigmented rabbits and the development of PVR was compared each other. The retinal toxicity of MMC was evaluated histopathologically after 30 minutes-intravitreal infusion with the same concentration of MMC.
RESULTS
On the final examination 8 weeks after intravitreal injection, the rate of PVR was 90%, 67%, and 20% in control group without MMC treatment, 3.0 microgram/L MMC-treated group, and 300 microgram/L MMC-treated group, respectively. The severity of PVR was milder in treatment groups than in non-treatment group in general, and the rate of PVR between control group and 300 microgram/L MMC-treated group was statistically significant (P<0.01). At 1 and 4 weeks of histopathologic study using the light and electromicroscopy to evaluate the retinal toxicity to MMC, the retina and retinal pigment epithelium showed similar findings in MMC-treated groups compared to non-MMC-treated control group.
CONCLUSIONS
These results show that pharmacologic therapy with MMC may be useful in the prevention of development and recurrence of PVR in the management of complex retinal detachment.