Fibrinolytic Capacity of Desmoteplase Compared to Tissue Plasminogen Activator in Rabbit Eyes

Desmoteplase (DSPA) was evaluated and compared with tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) for its intraocular fibrinolytic effect and short-term toxicity in an in vivo study using rabbit eyes.

Fibrin clots were induced in the anterior chamber of 44 rabbit eyes, and drug efficacy was measured by clot size reduction over 24 h. Topical DSPA eye drops (1.4 and 2 mg/mL) were compared with vehicle solution in a multiple-drop regimen in 8 animals per group. Intracameral injections of 0.6 μg DSPA (n = 14) and 25 μg t-PA (n = 14) were evaluated for their fibrinolytic efficacy. Animals were euthanized 24 h after drug application.

No significant differences were seen between topically treated DSPA and vehicle-treated animals. Intracameral t-PA had a higher fibrinolytic efficacy than DSPA at early time points, but no significant difference was seen between both groups at 24-h postapplication. Animals with t-PA treatment demonstrated significantly more side effects compared with DSPA-treated animals. DSPA showed no-to-mild side effects after topical and intracameral treatment. Histologically, no toxic effects were observed in any globe.

DSPA is a promising drug with fewer side effects and similar fibrinolytic efficacy compared with t-PA 24 h after intracameral application in rabbit eyes at the tested concentration. Drug efficacy might be improved by increasing intracameral DSPA doses.