Pterygium treatment using 5-FU as adjuvant treatment compared to conjunctiva autograft.
BACKGROUND
The use of conjunctiva autograft, adjunct antimetabolite therapy has been shown to be effective in preventing pterygium recurrence.


OBJECTIVE
To compare 5 fluorouracil (5-FU) to conjunctival autograft in the treatment of large, fleshy pterygium.


METHODS
A randomised controlled prospective study of outcome of pterygium treatment using 5-FU as adjuvant treatment compared to conjunctiva autograft. Thirty-five eyes with large pterygium treated with bare sclera conjunctival excision plus 5-FU were compared with 33 eyes treated with excision and conjunctival autograft alone.


RESULTS
Post-operative pterygium recurrence was observed in four (11.4%) eyes treated with 5-FU and 4 (12.1%) eyes treated with conjunctiva autograft (P>0.05). The post-operative complications included, granuloma formation 11.4% for 5-FU and 3.0% for autograft and conjunctival discharge 5.7% for 5-FU group only.


CONCLUSIONS
5-FU is marginally superior to conjunctival autograft in the prevention of pterygium recurrence but neither gives a more desirable single digit recurrence rate. Randomised studies combining both conjunctival autograft and 5-FU in pterygium treatment is advocated to further explore their effect.
Bekibele
C O
CO
Department of Ophthalmology, University college Hospital Ibadanu, Oyo, Nigeria. cob150@yahoo.com
Baiyeroju
A M
AM
Olusanya
B A
BA
Ashaye
A O
AO
Oluleye
T S
TS
D000328:Adult; D000963:Antimetabolites / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000637:transplantation*; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011625:Pterygium / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
D000963:Antimetabolites; D005472:Fluorouracil