The role of vitritis in pathogenesis of epiretinal «fibrosis». Clinical aspects of preretinal changes

    Abstract

    The role of vitritis in pathogenesis of epiretinal «fibrosis». Clinical aspects of preretinal changes

    Arsiutov D.G., Andreev A.N.

    Medical Institution «Republican Clinical Ophthalmological Hospital» Chuvash Ministry of Health, Cheboksary;
State Budgetary Education Institution of Higher Professional Education «I.N. Ulyanov Chuvash State University», Cheboksary

    

    From 2011 till 2015, 345 surgeries on epiretinal fibrosis were performed to 270 patients from 17 to 86 years old. 25 removed epiretinal membranes were histologically examined.

    On the basis of histological research of epiretinal membrane samples, their clinical aspects were determined:

    1. Inflammatory process of preretinal vitreum with minimal fibroblast activity (up to 30%) («wet» membrane) and expressed lymphocytic infiltration (up to70%).

    2. Inflammatory process of preretinal vitreum with medium fibroblast activity (up to 50%).

    3. Inflammatory process of preretinal vitreum with expressed fibroblast activity (up to 70%).

    4. Predominance of fibrocytes and fibroblasts over inflammatory cells (over 90%).

    5. Mature fibrous tissue (absence of lymphocytes in the histologic specimen).

    Conclusions. Lymphocytic infiltration indicates the inflammatory process in the membrane, which is most likely a manifestation and consequence of vitritis. Further research on pathogenesis of epiretinal fibrosis formation can allow to develop new differential approaches in diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

    Key words: vitritis, epiretinal fibrosis, inflammatory process.