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Edwin H. Ryan, MD; Jane Bailey Mizener, MD

Arch Ophthalmol. 1993;111(8):1117-1122.

Abstract
Objective
To determine whether intraocular administration of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) speeds clearance of inflammatory debris or prevents fibroproliferative complications in an animal model of endophthalmitis.

Methods
Aphakic rabbits were given an intraocular dose of Staphylococcus epidermidis organisms known to cause moderate inflammation and to self-sterilize. They were then randomized to receive either tPA or saline injections 2 and 3 days after inoculation. All eyes were graded by one masked clinician seven times, 1 to 28 days after infection. Vitreous samples from selected eyes were cultured.

Results
Treated and control eyes were found to have no significant difference in inflammatory scores. Although the eyes treated with tPA had more retinal detachments and more positive cultures than control eyes, these numbers were not statistically significant (P=.44 to.71).

Conclusion
Fibrinolysis with intraocular tPA does not accelerate clearance of inflammation nor decrease fibroproliferative complications in this animal model of endophthalmitis.

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Ophthalmology (Dr Ryan), University of Minnesota Medical School (Dr Mizener), Minneapolis. Dr Ryan is currently in private practice in Minneapolis; Dr Mizener is currently a resident in the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City.

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