[Fibroblasts from primary and recurrent pterygia and Tenon's capsule in cell culture].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate fibroblast proliferation activity of the Tenon capsule from primary and recurrent pterygia.


METHODS
A randomized prospective study was performed with 43 surgical samples from 30 primary and 13 recurrent pterygia, and samples of normal Tenon capsule from the same pterygium patients. Proliferation, migration, and confluence rate, and patient age, lesion location and type (fleshy or involutive; primary or recurrent) were evaluated. Data were submitted to statistical analysis.


RESULTS
Of the 30 cultivated primary pterygia, 21 migrated and proliferated, and 18 (60%) went to confluence. Migration, proliferation and confluence started much later in fibroblasts from normal Tenon than from pterygia lesion. The recurrent pterygia showed migration, proliferation, and confluence starting much earlier than the primary ones. There was no statistically significant difference in the start of migration, proliferation and confluence between fleshy and involuted pterygia, or between pterygias of Grades I-II and III-IV.


CONCLUSIONS
Pterygium fibroblasts are more viable than normal Tenon in cell culture. Migration, proliferation, and confluence differ in primary and recurrent pterygia. Fleshy and involutive pterygia are similar in culture; there is also no difference between pterygia according to lesion size in cell culture.
Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, Universidade Estadual de São Paulo, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
Magda Massae Hata
MM
Viveiros
Silvana Artioli
SA
Schellini
Sílvia
S
Rogato
Claudia
C
Rainho
Carlos Roberto
CR
Padovani
D000328:Adult; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000166:cytology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011625:Pterygium / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012008:Recurrence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index