title: Conjunctival structure and cell counts and the results of filtering surgery.
abstract: We evaluated perioperative conjunctival biopsy specimens in 28 consecutive patients with primary open-angle glaucoma undergoing trabeculectomy who had not undergone previous intraocular surgery. We found six months postoperatively that the number of goblet cells was significantly greater (6.40 +/- 5.40 vs 1.68 +/- 1.60 per field of view; P = .004, Student's t-test) in patients with easier postoperative intraocular pressure control (intraocular pressure < or = 15 mm Hg with zero to two glaucoma medications) than in patients with more difficult intraocular pressure control (> 15 mm Hg with three or more glaucoma medications). No statistical differences between groups were observed in mast cells, neutrophils, eosinophils, macrophages, plasma cells, lymphocytes, or fibroblasts (P > .05). Also, no statistical difference between groups existed in conjunctival structure, including mucopolysaccharide and collagen composition, vascular density, or epithelial thickness (P > .05). This study suggests that the number of conjunctival goblet cells may be related to intraocular pressure control after trabeculectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425-2236.
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Gwynn
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Pitts
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: McMillan
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Hennis
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014130:Trabeculectomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists