Effects of amniotic membrane transplantation and mitomycin C on wound healing in experimental glaucoma surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of mitomycin C and amniotic membrane transplantation on the modulation of wound healing after glaucoma filtration surgery.


METHODS
Trabeculectomy was performed in 3 groups of 10 rabbit eyes each. Sponges soaked in mitomycin C were applied to the first group, and amniotic membranes were transplanted around the scleral flap in the second group; the third group was the control. The arithmetic means of fibroblast and macrophage numbers per square centimetre were calculated.


RESULTS
The mean numbers of fibroblasts and macrophages were decreased significantly in the mitomycin C group, compared with the controls (p < 0.0001). Cell counts in the amniotic membrane group were also lower than the ones in the control group for fibroblasts and macrophages (p < 0.0001, p < 0.01, respectively). The difference between the two treatment groups was statistically significant for fibroblasts (p < 0.0001), but not significant for macrophages (p > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
In spite of the fact that amniotic membrane transplantation is less effective than mitomycin C for depressing wound healing after trabeculectomy, it might be a safer alternative in selected cases when considering severe adverse effects of antimetabolites.
Demir
Tamer
T
Department of Ophthalmology, Firat University Medical School, Elazig, Turkey. tameralperumay@yahoo.com
Turgut
Burak
B
Akyol
Nuray
N
Ozercan
Ibrahim
I
Ulaş
Fatih
F
Celiker
Ulkü
U
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000650:Amnion / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D000818:Animals; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000473:pathology; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; D011817:Rabbits; D014130:Trabeculectomy; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D016685:Mitomycin