HISTOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF INTRAVITREAL INJECTION OF VORICONAZOLE ON THE LENS OF NEW ZEALAND WHITE RABBITS
Published 2025 - 29th ESCRS Winter Meeting
Reference: PO224 | Type: Presented Poster & Poster | DOI: 10.82333/vhc5-fs23
Authors: Sofia Karachrysafi* 1 , Sophia Tsokkou 2 , Ioannis Konstantinidis 2 , Fani Akritidou 2 , Athanasios Karamitsos 2 , Penelope Anastasiadou 3 , Anastasia Komnenou 4 , Vasileios Karampatakis 5 , Antonia Sioga 1 , Theodora Papamitsou 1
1Research Team “Histologistas”, Interinstitutional Postgraduate Program “Health and Environmental Factors”, Department of Medicine,Aristotle University of Thessaloniki,Thessaloniki,Greece;Laboratory of Histology-Embryology, Department of Medicine,Aristotle University of Thessaloniki,Thessaloniki,Greece, 2Research Team “Histologistas”, Interinstitutional Postgraduate Program “Health and Environmental Factors”, Department of Medicine,Aristotle University of Thessaloniki,Thessaloniki,Greece, 3Research Team “Histologistas”, Interinstitutional Postgraduate Program “Health and Environmental Factors”, Department of Medicine,Aristotle University of Thessaloniki,Thessaloniki,Greece;Department of Oral Medicine/Pathology, School of Dentistry,Aristotle University of Thessaloniki,Thessaloniki,Greece, 4School of Veterinary Medicine,Aristotle University of Thessaloniki,Thessaloniki,Greece, 5Laboratory of Experimental Ophthalmology, Department of Medicine,Aristotle University of Thessaloniki,Thessaloniki,Greece
Purpose
The evaluation of the effect on the lens of the intravitreal administration of the maximum safe dosage of voriconazole in a single and double protocol.
Setting
Fungal endophthalmitis is a rare, but serious intraocular inflammatory disorder, which may ultimately result in blindness. Voriconazole is a more favorable antifungal option in comparison with Amphotericin B due to the lower risk in association with retinal toxicity and its wider spectrum. On the contradictory point, it can cause hepatotoxicity as well as embryotoxicity leading to teratogenicity, skin rashes and reversible vision disorders. However, there are limited data regarding its effect on the crystalline lens which could enlighten the visual symptoms after intravitreal injections.
Methods
Six albino New Zealand White Rabbits were used. In experimental animals, a solution of voriconazole was intravitreally injected in a single (Group V1) or double (Group V2) protocol in the right eyes, while balanced salt solution (BSS) was intravitreally injected in the left eyes (Group C) of the animals. Euthanasia was performed ten days post injection and lens was removed and prepared for histological examination as well as immunohistochemical study of the IL6 marker.
Results
Eosin-hematoxylin staining revealed vacuolization of the subcapsular epithelial cells and increase of the distance between the cells and the crystalline lens fibers. In addition, in some areas the subcapsular epithelium was presented as stratified which may indicate increase in the regenerative processes. These lesions were more profound in the Group V2. The immunohistochemical staining for IL-6 marker was detected as positive with mild intensity only in the Group V2, while it was detected as negative in the Group V1.
Conclusion
Histological lesions of the lens revealed with optical microscopy in the present study, raise the question of the safe usage of voriconazole in the treatment of fungal intraocular infections in the future, especially in a multidose protocol and its correlation with lens opacities in these patients.