Intraocular dexamethasone delivery system for corneal transplantation in an animal model.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy of a new intraocular biodegradable polymer dexamethasone drug delivery system (DEX DDS) in a high-risk corneal transplantation model.


METHODS
Lewis rats that received orthotopic corneal transplants (Balb/c mice donors) were divided into three groups (six rats in each); group 1 received no treatment and served as controls, group 2 was treated with 0.1% betamethasone eyedrops three times daily for 6 weeks, and group 3 received DEX DDS in the anterior chamber at the time of transplantation.


RESULTS
All grafts in the untreated control group were rejected within 8 days. In the betamethasone eyedrop group, five eyes (83%) were rejected during the 8-week study period. None of the grafts in the DEX DDS group was rejected. The administration of DEX DDS significantly prolonged the survival rate of the corneal grafts (p < 0.001, log-rank test).


CONCLUSIONS
DEX DDS is effective in suppressing graft rejection in high-risk corneal transplantation.
Kagaya
Fumie
F
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tokyo School of Medicine, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113 8655, Japan.
Usui
Tomohiko
T
Kamiya
Kazutaka
K
Ishii
Yasuo
Y
Tanaka
Sumiyoshi
S
Amano
Shiro
S
Oshika
Tetsuro
T
D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000818:Animals; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004343:Drug Implants; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007634:Keratitis / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D023421:Models, Animal; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous
D004343:Drug Implants; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone