Hyperthermia reduces the occurrence of proliferative vitreoretinopathy in a rabbit model

The effects of hyperthermia on experimental proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) in rabbits were studied. Heat treatment (42.4 degrees C for 30 min) of the retinal surface (as estimated from temperature measurement of the retrobulbar space) 2 to 3 hr after fibroblast injection reduced the occurrence of traction retinal detachment compared with control rabbits (P less than 0.02), but the incidence of pucker formation plus traction detachment was not significantly different between the two groups. In a separate experiment, heat treatment applied to normal rabbit eyes showed only reversible elongation in the latency of the electroretinographic b-wave without affecting the amplitude. Histologic examination revealed no significant changes in the heat-treated normal rabbit retina. Hyperthermia may be used as a new therapeutic tool for PVR.