Investigation of the safety of tenecteplase to the outer retina.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the safety of the thrombolytic agent, tenecteplase to the outer retina in pig eyes.


METHODS
Tenecteplase (50 microg) was injected into the subretinal space in one eye while the fellow eye received balanced salt solution. At 24 h, 1 week and 9 weeks the eyes were examined by indirect ophthalmoscopy and photographed. Animals were killed at 9 weeks, eyes enucleated and processed for light and transmission electron microscopy. Three locations within the area of the injection bleb were analysed.


RESULTS
Retinal pigment epithelial defects, which appeared to be iatrogenic and confined to the injection site, were seen in most of the treated and control eyes. There was no significant difference in the degree of retinal damage between the two groups of eyes at the three sites examined (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Fifty micrograms of tenecteplase appears to be a safe dose with no evidence of toxicity to the outer retina and may have a potential role in the treatment of submacular haemorrhage.
McAllister
Ian L
IL
Lions Eye Institute, Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. ianmca@cyllene.uwa.edu.au
Vijayasekaran
Sarojini
S
Khong
Chee Hong
CH
Yu
Dao-Yi
DY
D000818:Animals; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D007267:Injections; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013552:Swine; D000077785:Tenecteplase; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000633:toxicity*
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator; D000077785:Tenecteplase