Immunoelectron microscopy of neovascular epiretinal membrane

ABSTRACT

A 59 year old woman presented with vitreous hemorrhage in the left eye. She has seen a dark spot in front of the left eye since one month. The right eye had normal visual acuity with ocular fundus showing mild age related macular Drusen. An important neovascular membrane in the L.E. emerging from the optic disc was harbouring large congested vessels and gave some traction on the papillomacular area. A cardiovascular check-up disclosed a substenoses of the left common carotid artery. Pars plana vitrectomy was performed on L.E. and the membrane was peeled off in one piece and divided into two similar portions. One was B5 fixed paraffin embedded tissue. Stained with monoclonal antibodies directed against T-cells, B-cells, macrophages, Langerhans cells and HLA-DR antigens. The other portion was frozen and prepared for immunoelectron microscopy. The cellular componant was mainly T-Lymphocytes with positive OKT8 staining