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Ultrastructural characteristics of proliferative tissue in retinopathy of prematurity
Insights
Histologic analysis of membranes from retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) revealed neovascularization in active disease and glial cells in inactive disease. Müller cells were observed migrating into the vitreous.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Histology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of childhood blindness.
- Vitreous surgery is performed for severe cases of ROP.
- Membrane characteristics in ROP are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the histologic and ultrastructural features of membranes removed during vitreous surgery for ROP.
- To differentiate membrane characteristics based on disease activity and location.
Main Methods:
- Histologic and ultrastructural examination of 27 membranes from 18 patients with ROP.
- Analysis of membranes based on disease activity (active vs. inactive) and location (anterior vs. posterior).
Main Results:
- Anterior membranes in active ROP showed developing neovascularization.
- Posterior membranes in inactive ROP were avascular and composed of glial cells.
- Retinal glial cells (Müller cells) were observed migrating into the vitreous, fragmenting the internal limiting lamina.
Conclusions:
- Membrane composition in ROP varies with disease activity and location.
- Neovascularization is a feature of active anterior ROP membranes.
- Glial cell activity, including Müller cell migration, is prominent in inactive ROP.
Abstract:
We examined the histologic and ultrastructural characteristics of 27 membranes (from 18 patients) removed during vitreous surgery for partial and total retinopathy of prematurity. In membranes removed anteriorly from a child with active disease, we found vessels that had characteristics of developing neovascularization. In the membranes from older infants with inactive disease (16 patients), glial cells were common and vessels, if present, had more mature characteristics. Retinal glial cells (presumably Müller cells) were seen fragmenting the internal limiting lamina and migrating into the overlying vitreous by projecting long microvilli into the vitreous cavity. Anterior membranes (13 patients), particularly in active disease, were likely to contain vessels, whereas posterior membranes (five patients) were more often avascular and were composed of glial cells.