Breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier after radiofrequency-induced ocular hyperthermia.
To study the possible application of hyperthermia in the treatment of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), we induced hyperthermia in 15 normal rabbit eyes by a radiofrequency capacitive heating device. The retinal surface of each eye was warmed to a presumed temperature of 41 or 43 degrees C for 30 min. The thermal effect on the blood-retinal barrier (BRB) was evaluated before and 2 h after the hyperthermic regimen by means of vitreous fluorophotometry. Heat treatment to 43 degrees C at the retinal surface for 30 min increased the fluorescein leakage compared with the 41 degrees C treatment. This finding suggests that retinal hyperthermia at 43 degrees C for 30 min may cause breakdown of the BRB.
Kiryu
J
J
Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto University Faculty of Medicine, Japan.
Ogura
Y
Y
Moritera
T
T
Yoshimura
N
N
Honda
Y
Y
D000818:Animals; D001813:Blood-Retinal Barrier / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005123:Eye / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015590:Fluorophotometry; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D011817:Rabbits; D011846:Radio Waves; D012160:Retina / Q000528:radiation effects