High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of blood-retinal barrier integrity following transscleral diode laser treatment.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effects of contact transscleral diode laser treatment and retinal cryotherapy on blood-retinal barrier integrity with the use of high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging techniques with constant infusion of gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA).


METHODS
Transscleral diode laser photocoagulation and retinal cryotherapy were used to treat equivalent areas of the inferior retinal periphery of pigmented rabbits. Magnetic resonance imaging time-course studies with measurement of signal enhancements due to Gd-DTPA leakage were conducted 2 and 15 days following treatment.


RESULTS
Two days following treatment, cryotherapy-treated eyes exhibited a mean (+/- SD) effective Gd-DTPA permeability coefficient of 4.6 +/- 0.8 x 10(-6) cm/s; in comparison, diode laser-treated eyes exhibited 1.6 x 1.4 x 10(-6) cm/s effective permeability. Significant decreases in the effective permeability were also noted 15 days after treatment in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Transscleral contact probe diode laser photocoagulation induces less disruption of the blood-retinal barrier than does conventional cryotherapy. In addition, the continuous infusion method of Gd-DTPA delivery is a reliable and easily interpretable alternative to the commonly used bolus injection approach.
Arrindell
E L
EL
Department of Ophthalmology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
Wu
J C
JC
Wolf
M D
MD
Nanda
S
S
Han
D P
DP
Wong
E C
EC
Abrams
G W
GW
Mieler
W F
WF
Hyde
J S
JS
D000818:Animals; D001813:Blood-Retinal Barrier / Q000502:physiology*; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D017679:Cryotherapy; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012590:Sclera
D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA