THE EFFECT OF INTRAVITREAL ADMINISTRATION OF ANTIFUNGALS ON IRIS TISSUE OF ALBINO NEW ZEALAND RABBITS: AN ELECTRON MICROSCOPY STUDY
Published 2024 - 28th ESCRS Winter Meeting
Reference: P193 | Type: Presented Poster & Poster | DOI: 10.82333/2wrn-sj90
Authors: Sofia Karachrysafi 1 , Fani Akritidou 1 , Sophia Tsokkou* 1 , Aikaterini Partali 1 , Dimitrios Kavvadas 1 , Vasileios Karampatakis 2 , Anastasia Komninou 3 , Antonia Sioga 1 , Theodora Papamitsou 1
1Laboratory of Histology-Embryology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki,Aristotle University of Thessaloniki,Thessaloniki,Greece, 2Laboratory of Experimental Ophthalmology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki,Aristotle University of Thessaloniki,Thessaloniki,Greece, 3Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece,Aristotle University of Thessaloniki,Thessaloniki,Greece
Purpose
The purpose of this research is to study the histological effects of these two factors on the iris, since there are no corresponding studies to date.
Setting
Fungal endophthalmitis is a rare but severe vision-threatening complication of cataract and refractive surgery, especially in immunosuppressed patients. A main therapeutic approach is intravitreal administration of antifungal agents. Two new representatives of this category are voriconazole, belonging to the triazoles, and micafungin, belonging to the echinocandins.
Methods
Fifteen New Zealand albino white rabbits were used. In the right eyes of the rabbits, intravitreal administration of voriconazole solution (at a dose of 40μg/0.1ml) was performed in a single and double administration protocol (Group V1 and V2 respectively), a micafugin solution (in a dose of 25μg/0.1ml) in a single and double administration protocol, while both solutions were administered in a combined double administration protocol (Group VM). In the left eyes of the rabbits, intravitreal administration of BSS was performed in a single and double injection protocol (Group C1 and C2 respectively - Control groups). Euthanasia was performed ten days after the last injection. The iris was removed and prepared for histological examination by optical and electron microscopy.
Results
The application of eosin-hematoxylin staining revealed a reduction of folds and mild alterations of the epithelium of the posterior surface of the iris in Groups V2, M2 and VM. Less intense alteration observed in Groups V1 and M1. The ultrastructural study confirmed the optical microscope findings and revealed disruptions of the normal collagen fiber architecture in the iris layer and exudation of the mitochondria in smooth muscle cells of iris dilator muscle especially in the double injection groups.
Conclusion
Τhe extent and severity of lesions, raise concerns about the two antifungal drugs’ safety, either single or combined, when administered intravitreally. Findings suggest insightful a study that focuses on longer term effects, aiming on elucidating the safety and reversibility of the lesions.