Effect of compound betamethasone on immunological rejection after xenogeneic corneal lamellar transplantation / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

ABSTRACT

AIM:To observe the sustained-release effect of compound betamethasone by subconjunctival injection on immunological rejection after ostrich-rabbit lamellar keratoplasty.METHODS:Sixteen healthy New Zealand white rabbits with 6wk old received corneal lamellar keratoplasty,and the corneal graft was ostrich acellular corneal stroma.After surgery all subjects were divided into two groups,Group A (experimental group) were administrated with subconjunctival injection of compound betamethasone injection (once every 7d),and Group B (control group) were administrated with subconjunctival injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphate (once every 7d).At 1,2wk,1,2mo after the surgery,rabbit corneas were taken for paraffin sections,and were observed with H-E staining,in the meantime changes of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes were observed by immunofluorescence.RESULTS:Two months after surgery,in Group A corneal grafts remained transparenct,and showed little neovascularization;HE staining and indirect immunofluorescence showed that only a few neutrophil infiltration,no CD4+ and CD8+T lymphocytes.In Group B,the inflammatory reaction was observable at different time points,the corneal graft was turbid;and the tissue sections and indirect immunofluorescence staining showed that neutrophil infiltration was predominant,and CD4+,CD8+T lymphocytes were also seen.CONCLUSION:Compound betamethasone is able to inhibit the ostrich-rabbit corneal transplantation immune rejection,prolong the survival time of the grafts.The present study lay the foundation for further research and clinical application.