[Proliferative vitreoretinopathy: pathophysiology and clinical diagnosis]

Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) remains one of the most common causes of failed retinal detachment (RD) surgery. Many histological and clinical studies have highlighted the chain of events leading to PVR: cellular migration into the vitreous cavity, cellular differentiation, myofibroblast proliferation and activation, synthesis of extracellular matrix proteins, then contraction of preretinal tissues. The development of PVR can be explained schematically by cellular exposure to growth factors and cytokines (particularly retinal pigment epithelial cells and glial cells), in the context of break-down of the blood-retinal barrier (inflammation, choroidal detachment, iatrogenic effect of cryotherapy and surgery) and of cellular contact with the vitreous. Although the pathophysiology of PVR is now better understood, its severity remains an issue. A systematic search for preoperative PVR risk factors allows the most suitable therapeutic option to be chosen.