Lack of corneal toxicity of interferon Alpha-2b administered subconjunctivally after sclerectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the corneal toxicity of subconjunctival injection interferon alpha-2b at filtering bleb after sclerectomy in white rabbits.


METHODS
Eight rabbits which had been performed sclerectomy were randomly divided into two groups. Each group consisted of four rabbits. Eight eyes in group 1 were subconjunctivally received interferon alpha-2b 5 x 10(5) IU/0.2 ml into filtering bleb from the edge of the filtering site immediately after operation and every postoperative day. The other eight eyes in group 2 were injected with 0.2 ml normal saline. All of the eyes underwent daily examination by slip-lamp microscopy and direct ophthalmoloscopy. Sodium fluorescein was used to assess corneal epithelial integrity. On day 3, 4, 7 and 14, every two rabbits (group 1 and 2 each, respectively) were killed and removed cornea immediately to take examination of the viability of corneal endothelium by dual staining with typan blue and alizanin red S.


RESULTS
No sign of toxicity in corneal epithelium and endothelium were found following continuously injection interferon alpha-2b at filtering bleb 3-14 days totally for selected doses.


CONCLUSIONS
Subconjunctivally administered interferon alpha-2b at filtering bleb after glaucoma filtering surgery may be a safe drug-applied method.
Zhang
X
X
Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510060, China.
Peng
D
D
Zheng
H
H
Liang
M
M
D000818:Animals; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000187:drug effects*; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D018463:Filtering Surgery; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012590:Sclera / Q000601:surgery*
D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins