Abstract
Purpose :
Fine needle diathermy (FND) is currently one of the clinical choices for managing pathologic corneal neovascularization. However, whether this treatment besides clinically visible blood vessels also affects lymphatic vessels is so far unknown. Here we test the hypothesis that fine needle diathermy does not only destroy visible blood, but also regresses invisible lymphatic vessels.
Methods :
The effect of FND on putative regression of corneal blood and lymphatic vessels was studied in vivo using the 6-8 weeks old BALB/c mouse model of suture-induced inflammatory corneal neovascularization. Study mice were divided into 3 groups (five mice each group): FND (treated with FND and anti-inflammatory eye drops), Anti (treated with only anti-inflammatory drops) and Non (no treated). Five, 7, 10 and 20 days after cauterization, corneas were harvested and stained with LYVE-1 and CD31. The corneal area covered by blood and lymphatic vessels was analyzed and quantified using a semiautomatic method based on the image analysis program Cell^F.
Results :
Both blood and lymphatic vessels were significantly reduced in the FND group compared to group Non at all four time points (p < 0.05). The most obvious effect of FND on regression of both hemangiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis is observable at day 7 (p<0.01).
Conclusions :
Fine needle diathermy not only destroys and regresses visible pathologic corneal blood vessels, but also associated clinically invisible lymphatic vessels. This novel antilymphangiogenic and lymphangioregressive effect of FND can be used clinically to promote graft survival in high-risk corneal transplant eyes.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2017 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Baltimore, MD, May 7-11, 2017.