title: Low-dose intraocular tissue plasminogen activator treatment for traumatic total hyphema, postcataract, and penetrating keratoplasty fibrinous membranes.
abstract: Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) has been used to treat severe postcataract and vitrectomy fibrinous membranes, but intraocular bleeding has occurred with doses of 25 micrograms or higher. We report three patients, one with nonclearing total hyphema and uncontrollable intraocular pressure and two with severe fibrinous membrane formation, who had treatment with low-dose (4 micrograms to 6 micrograms) intraocular tPA. Although the fibrinous membranes or hyphema resolved in all three patients, they recurred and bleeding that required additional treatment occurred in one patient. Intraocular low-dose tPA may minimize the risk of corneal and retinal toxicity and may be considered an alternative treatment in intractable cases. However, secondary intraocular hemorrhage can occur, and the timing between the initial vascular injury, treatment with tPA, and subsequent bleeding may reduce the risk of further hemorrhaging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio 78284-6230, USA.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Starck
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hopp
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Held
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Marouf
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Yee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000867:Anterior Chamber; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology; D065306:Corneal Injuries; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D015807:Eye Injuries, Penetrating / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D005337:Fibrin; D006801:Humans; D006988:Hyphema / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D007267:Injections; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D005337:Fibrin; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator