[Diffuse lamellar keratitis. Postoperative prophylactic treatment with corticosteroids in an experimental animal study].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this experimental ani-mal study was to induce diffuse lamellar keratitis (DLK), and investigate a prophylactic treatment with corticosteroids.


METHODS
A corneal flap was cut in 40 eyes from 20 Dutch-belted rabbits and the interface inoculated with either Pseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide (LPS) endotoxin ( n=21) or Palmolive Ultra soap ( n=19). Half of the eyes were treated with topical corticosteroids and the other half remained untreated. Slitlamp examinations were performed 1, 3, 5 and 7 days postoperatively and DLK was graded from I-IV.


RESULTS
At the end of the study 33 eyes were available for evaluation and 94% of the non-treated eyes developed DLK. Out of those eyes treated with steroids 19% developed DLK during the 1 week follow-up period. This was statistically significantly lower ( P=0.018) when compared to the untreated group.


CONCLUSIONS
Pseudomonas aeruginosa LPS endotoxin as well as Palmolive((R)) Ultra caused a very high rate of DLK in rabbit eyes. The postoperative prophylactic treatment with corticosteroids showed a statistically significant lower DLK rate in this rabbit eye model.
Holzer
M P
MP
Magill Research Center for Vision Correction, Storm Eye Institute, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA. holzer@musc.edu
Solomon
K D
KD
Vargas
L G
LG
Sandoval
H P
HP
Kasper
T J
TJ
Vroman
D T
DT
Apple
D J
DJ
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D004731:Endotoxins; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007634:Keratitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000009:adverse effects; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa; D011817:Rabbits; D012915:Soaps; D013997:Time Factors
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D004731:Endotoxins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D012915:Soaps