Use of tissue plasminogen activator in experimental hyphema
F. H. Lambrou, R. W. Snyder and G. A. Williams
Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is a fibrin-specific fibrinolytic agent
that has recently been shown to be effective in accelerating the clearance
of fibrin clots from the rabbit anterior chamber. We studied the effect of
intracameral tPA on the clearance of experimental hyphema in the rabbit.
Fifteen eyes were treated with an intracameral injection of tPA (1800 IU),
11 eyes were treated with a physiologic saline solution (PS) injection, and
16 eyes received no injection. Total hyphemas treated with tPA showed 80%
clearance within 24 hours, while eyes treated with PS and untreated eyes
cleared in 14 days. Measurement of corneal thickness revealed the
tPA-treated eyes to have less corneal edema than eyes treated with PS and
untreated eyes. There was no difference in intraocular pressure. The
results indicate that tPA is effective in accelerating the clearance of
experimental hyphema.
