[Use of 5-fluorouracil in trabeculectomy]

The cytostatic 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is used at present in the postoperative treatment of glaucoma. In 1993-6 we administered by the subconjunctival route at the Ophthalmological Clinic in Hradec Králové 5-FU to a group of 158 eyes after trabeculectomy (TE). The basic indication was ingrowth of the filtration vesicle or a rise of intraocular tension to 20 torr and more in 148 eyes. Preventively 5-FU was administered during operation during revisions of TE in 10 eyes. In the mentioned group with an unfavourable course of postoperative scar formation in the wound we achieved during the investigation period of two years after surgery normalization of the intraocular pressure to less than 16 torr without further treatment (we consider the value and condition without treatment as the optimal condition) in 37% of cases and in 81% less than 20 torr with treatment. Side-effects of administration of 5-FU (most frequently erosion of the corneal epithelium were transient. For the mentioned indications 5-FU appears, being a cytostatic where the dosage can be exact, sufficiently safe for administration and it exerts an optimal effect.