Abstract
Purpose:
To evaluate the toxicity of intrastromally injected voriconazole on corneal endothelial cells in rabbits.
Methods:
32 eyes of 16 rabbits (8 eyes for each group) were divided into 4 groups according to various concentrations of voriconazole (0.05%, 0.1%, 0.25% and 0.5%). Right eyes were injected intrastromally with voriconazole 50μg/0.1mL, 100μg/0.1mL, 250 μg/0.1mL, 500μg/0.1mL. Left eyes were injected intrastromally with isotonic saline as controls. Central corneal thickness and endothelial cell counts were measured before and at 6 hour, 1 day, 1 week after the injection. Then, corneas were harvested for transmission electron microscopy.
Results:
Only 0.5% group was not significantly recovered from the corneal edema at 1 week after the injection (P value = 0.167, P value = 0.051, P value = 0.086, P value = 0.001). There were significant differences in endothelial cell counts in 0.1%, 0.25% groups (P value = 0.077, P value = 0.019, P value = 0.008). Transmission electron microscopy revealed the definite necrotic changes of endothelial cells at concentrations of 0.1%, 0.25% or 0.5%, but, only microstructural change at a concentration of 0.05%.
Conclusions:
These results suggest that intrastromal voriconazole injection at a concentration of 0.05% could be injected safely with less endothelial cell toxicity. However, it should be performed with caution because of risk of microstructural damage.
Keywords: 481 cornea: endothelium •
479 cornea: clinical science