[Morphologic types of idiopathic epiretinal fibrosis based on immunohistochemistry data]

The least studied component of idiopathic epiretinal membranes (iERMs), one of the manifestations of which is known as idiopathic epiretinal fibrosis (iERF), is the extracellular matrix (ECM). Investigation of the qualitative and quantitative composition of the ECM, as well as the structural organization of its components, may be useful for determining the clinical course of iERF.

This study aimed to identify features of the protein profile and architecture of iERMs and to assess various variants of development and clinical course of the disease.

The study included 32 patients who underwent surgery for iERF. Standard ophthalmologic examinations and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed. During surgical treatment, excised tissue was collected for immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis. Membrane specimens were fixed according to the proposed method of the author, followed by IHC analysis.

Three morphological types of iERMs were identified, differing in ECM composition, degree of adhesion to the retinal internal limiting membrane (ILM), postoperative visual acuity and visual quality parameters, and the dynamics of their growth.

Determination of iERM morphological types using IHC methods may serve as a prognostic factor for postoperative visual acuity and the dynamics of visual recovery in iERF.