A FLUOROPHOTOMETRIC STUDY OF CORNEAL ENDOTHELIUM AFTER TRABECULECTOMYUSING DIFFERENT CONCENTRATIONS OF MITOMYCIN-C

The aim of the study was to determine the corneal endothelial permeabi lity coefficient (Pac) in subjects after trabeculectomies using differ ent concentrations of Mitomycin-C (MMC). MMC, a highly toxic drug, is not without drawbacks and complications such as corneal damage. To asc ertain a possible relationship between a level of endothelial permeabi lity (Pac) and concentrations of MMC used, we performed, in a prospect ive study, trabeculectomies in cases of primary open-angle glaucoma (P OAG), younger than 50 years, with either concentrations of 0.5 mg/ml o f MMC (group 1: 11 eyes) or 0.2 mg/ml of MMC (group 2: 10 eyes). Group 3 consisted of 8 patients after a typical trabeculectomy without MMC and served as a control group (8 eyes). In all groups, before surgery and again 1, 3 and 6 months after surgery, corneal endothelial permeab ility (Pac) was determined by using anterior segment fluorophotometry (Fluorotron Master). The thickness of the cornea (CT) was measured wit h a DGH Technology ultrasonic pachymeter. One month after surgery the mean values of Pac were statistically significantly higher in groups 1 and 2 (group 1: 4.78 x 10(-4) cm/min, group 2: 4.67 x 10(-4) cm/min) in comparison with the control group (group 3: 3.37 x 10(-4) cm/min), but the differences between groups 1 and 2 were not statistically sign ificant (p = 0.05). Six months after operation the mean values of Pac in all groups were normalized. In eyes that underwent trabeculectomy w ith MMC, higher concentrations of MMC were likely to have a transient adverse effect on corneal endothelial permeability. In Light of the re sulting toxic intraocular effect of MMC, the damage in the function of the corneal endothelial barrier is greater with greater concentration s of MMC.