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Effect of intravitreal dexamethasone in treatment of pneumococcal endophthalmitis in rabbits
1Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA.
Purpose:
To investigate whether corticosteroid therapy would decrease the inflammation and tissue damage associated with pneumococcal endophthalmitis.
Methods:
Albino rabbits were injected intravitreally with 1000 live organisms of Streptococcus pneumoniae and randomized after 24 hours to treatment with intravitreal vancomycin hydrochloride alone (n = 10), combination intravitreal vancomycin and intravitreal dexamethasone (n = 10), or no treatment (n = 10). After 2 weeks, the eyes were examined clinically and enucleated for histopathologic examination.
Results:
Eyes treated with vancomycin and dexamethasone had significantly less intraocular inflammation and more preservation of retinal tissue than untreated eyes or eyes treated with vancomycin alone (P < .05, Fisher's exact test). Untreated and vancomycin-treated eyes were indistinguishable on clinical and histologic examination. Marked anterior and posterior segment inflammation with total retinal necrosis was noted in eyes from both groups.
Conclusion:
Intravitreal corticosteroid therapy may play an important role in minimizing the inflammation and tissue damage associated with pneumococcal endophthalmitis.