title: Autologous plasmin-assisted vitrectomy for stage 5 retinopathy of prematurity: a preliminary trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of autologous plasmin (AP)-assisted vitrectomy for stage 5 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Interventional case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six consecutive eyes of four children with stage 5 ROP were treated. The patients' ages at the surgery ranged from five to eight months after birth. Four eyes showed closed-closed configuration and two eyes showed open-open configuration. After lensectomy and dissection of the anterior proliferative membrane, 0.03 to 0.22 International Unit (IU) of AP was administrated into the vitreous cavity. After 15 to 30 minutes of incubation, the proliferative membrane was treated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proliferative membrane was removed successfully without iatrogenic retinal break. Complete reattachment of the posterior pole retina was achieved in all six eyes (100%). No obvious complication was observed in the follow-up period, which ranged from 11 to 14 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest the benefit of AP in the vitrectomy for treatment of stage 5 ROP.
authors.affiliation: Division of Ophthalmology, Department of Organs Therapeutics, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan. tsuka@med.kobe-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yasutomo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tsukahara
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Honda
authors.forename: Hisanori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Imai
authors.forename: Naoshi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hirata
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawaji
authors.forename: Mikiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukushima
authors.forename: Hidenobu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanihara
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Negi
mesh_terms: D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D019773:Epiretinal Membrane / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005341:Fibrinolysin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000601:surgery*; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000145:classification / Q000601:surgery*; D014821:Vitrectomy / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D005341:Fibrinolysin