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This abstract is assigned to session OB Free papers 4 - Glaucoma

Title

FRO - The effect of microplamin on wound healing after glaucoma filtration surgery

Purpose	This study was designed to study the efficacy and safety of Microplasmin as an anti-scarring agent in a rabbit model of trabeculectomy.
Methods	The effect of Microplasmin was investigated in vivo in a rabbit model for glaucoma surgery. Clinical outcome measures were intra-ocular pressure, bleb area, and side effects on slit lamp examination. Moreover, (immuno-) histochemical analysis of the eyes was performed, with quantification of inflammation (CD 45) and collagen deposition (Trichrome and Sirius Red). In the first experiment (n=3), topical Microplasmin drops were compared to placebo drops. In the second experiment (n=5), subconjunctival Microplasmin injection was compared to placebo injection. In the third experiment (n=10), intracameral Microplasmin injection was compared to placebo injection. In the last experiment a combination of intracameral Microplasmin and topical drops was compared to placebo injection and drops. All experiments were conducted by a masked observer. The aqueous solution of microplasmin used in all experiments was not optimized for use as drops or in subconjunctival injection.
Results	Microplasmin combination therapy significantly augmented the bleb area over the 30 days of follow-up (p=0.05). There was a trend that the single anterior chamber injection augmented the bleb area in the first week compared to control (p= 0.08). In contrast the beneficial effects of microplasmin after topical administration alone or subconjunctival Microplasmin trabeculectomy were absent (p=0.73, 0.90 respectively). No significant changes in collagen deposition and inflammation in the anterior chamber or in the conjunctiva were noticed.
Conclusion	The combination of anterior chamber injection and topical drops improved surgical outcome of trabeculectomy in a rabbit model, despite the fact that the formulation of Microplasmin was not optimized for use as drops or injections. Our proposed research project will optimize the formulation of Microplasmin for extended drug delivery and determine the optimal administration route and regimen.

Author 1

Last name	VAN BERGEN
Initials	T
City	Leuven