title: Intraocular dexamethasone delivery system for corneal transplantation in an animal model.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tokyo School of Medicine, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113 8655, Japan.
authors.forename: Fumie
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kagaya
authors.forename: Tomohiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Usui
authors.forename: Kazutaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kamiya
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.forename: Sumiyoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Shiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amano
authors.forename: Tetsuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oshika
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D004343:Drug Implants; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone