Antithrombotic effect of ticlopidine in an experimental model of retinal vein occlusion.
OBJECTIVE
Ticlopidine inhibits adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation and may be effective in patients with retinal vein occlusions (RVO). This study tests the efficacy of ticlopidine in an animal model of RVO.


METHODS
Rose bengal-mediated argon laser photothrombosis of retinal veins was created in rabbits pretreated with oral ticlopidine, aspirin, or saline. The number of laser spots necessary to produce a partial or complete RVO was recorded and tabulated.


RESULTS
Pretreatment with ticlopidine significantly increased the number of laser spots needed to produce a partial (P =.02), or a complete (P =.002) RVO as compared to the control group. Pretreatment with ticlopidine significantly increased the number of laser spots needed to produce a partial RVO (P =.02). Pretreatment with aspirin significantly increased the number of laser spots needed to produce a complete RVO (P =.002).


CONCLUSIONS
Ticlopidine may be a useful antiplatelet agent for the treatment of patients with RVO. Patients treated with ticlopidine should be monitored for the possible development of hematologic disorders.
Arroyo
J G
JG
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Dastgheib
K
K
Hatchell
D L
DL
D000818:Animals; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D023421:Models, Animal; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011817:Rabbits; D012169:Retinal Vein / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000601:surgery; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012395:Rose Bengal; D013988:Ticlopidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D012395:Rose Bengal; D013988:Ticlopidine; D001241:Aspirin