title: Clinical and histopathological outcomes of subconjunctival triamcinolone injection for the treatment of acute ocular alkali burn in rabbits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of subconjunctival injection of triamcinolone in the treatment of acute ocular alkali burn in rabbits.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two groups of 5 rabbits were subjected to alkali burn (1 N NaOH). One group was treated with 1 subconjunctival injection of 0.3 mL of triamcinolone and the other with 1 subconjunctival injection of 0.3 mL of 0.9% saline. The affected corneas were observed for vascularization and opacity approximately 10 minutes after the burn and also after 7, 14, and 21 days. Photographs were taken for observation and statistical analyses. At all time intervals, the corneas were classified according to predetermined scores. Twenty-one days after the treatment, the animals were anesthetized, and their eyes were enucleated and processed for histopathology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Greater vascularization and opacity appeared in the animals that were treated with saline than in those treated with subconjunctival triamcinolone (vascularization: 7 days, P = 0.0107; 14 days, P = 0.0099; and 21 days, P = 0.0088; opacity: 7 days, P = 0.0079; 14 days, P = 0.0112; and 21 days, P = 0.0255). These results were also compatible with the morphological and statistical analyses, which revealed a more intense inflammatory process in the group treated with saline (P = 0.0317). No complications, such as corneal melting, perforation, or infection, were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subconjunctival injection of triamcinolone may be a therapeutic option for the treatment of acute ocular burn because it reduced the corneal inflammatory process, opacity, and vascularization, with no apparent clinical changes in the general state of the animal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Esper E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Saud
authors.forename: Haroldo V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Moraes
authors.forename: Leonardo G C
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Marculino
authors.forename: José Alvaro P
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Allodi
authors.forename: Nádia C O
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Miguel
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D060433:Administration, Ophthalmic; D000468:Alkalies / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003315:Cornea / Q000187:drug effects; D065306:Corneal Injuries; D016510:Corneal Neovascularization / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005126:Eye Burns / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007267:Injections; D011817:Rabbits; D014221:Triamcinolone / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000468:Alkalies; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D014221:Triamcinolone