INJECTION OF AUTOLOGOUS BLOOD FOR BLEB LEAKS IN NEW-ZEALAND WHITE-RABBITS

Purpose. Bleb leaks after trabeculectomy with antimetab olites can be recalcitrant to therapy. Peribleb autologous blood injections are a mo derately successful new treatment modality for such leaks. However, it is unclear what mechanism the injections work to achieve leak resolut ion. Methods. A randomized, prospective study in the rabbit model was undertaken to evaluate further the clinical and histologic effects of peribleb autologous blood injection after leak induction in mitomycin- C exposed blebs, compared to controls that received only peribleb bala nced salt solution injections. Results. In the blood-treated eyes, all bleb leaks healed. Control eyes either demonstrated persistent bleb l eaks with shallow anterior chambers or failed blebs that were Seidel n egative. Histologic results were remarkable for increased peribleb cel lularity and collagen deposition in the blood-treated eyes, compared t o controls. Conclusions. Peribleb autologous blood injections are asso ciated with bleb leak resolution, increased peribleb cellularity, and collagen deposition in the rabbit model.