Transforming growth factor-beta 2 for the treatment of full-thickness macular holes. A prospective randomized study

Full-thickness macular holes generally cause a significant reduction in visual acuity, due in part to a rim of surrounding neurosensory retinal detachment and retinal thickening. Recent studies have suggested that flattening of this narrow rim of neurosensory detachment can result in improved visual acuity. However, the ability to flatten the neurosensory detachment is limited using current surgical techniques.

Transforming growth factor-beta 2 (TGF-beta 2) is a recently discovered potent stimulator of wound healing. The authors, therefore, performed a prospective randomized study of 60 patients to determine if the local application of TGF-beta 2 to the edge of the macular hole can reproducibly induce flattening of the surrounding neurosensory detachment. The results of a study designed to determine the effect of a pars plana vitrectomy, fluid-gas exchange, and intravitreal instillation of TGF-beta 2 in eyes with a full-thickness macular hole and reduced visual acuity are reported.

After treatment, visual acuity improved 2 lines or more in 5 of 11 eyes treated with 70 ng, in 4 of 12 eyes treated with 330 ng, and in 10 of 11 eyes treated with 1330 ng of TGF-beta 2. In some eyes, hyaluronic acid was added. In these cases, visual acuity improved 2 lines or more in 0 of 9 eyes treated with 70 ng TGF-beta 2, in 2 of 8 eyes treated with 330 ng, and in 4 of 9 eyes treated with 1330 ng.

Logistic regression analysis demonstrated a statistically significant beneficial effect of TGF-beta 2 on visual improvement (P = 0.003).