Effect of fat embolism with triolein emulsion on blood-retinal barrier.

BACKGROUND

Triolein emulsion is under investigation for supplemental use to open the blood-brain barrier during chemotherapy. The effects of triolein emulsion on the blood-retinal barrier (BRB) were investigated.

METHODS

Fat emboli were induced in 20 cats by injecting triolein emulsion through the carotid artery. At 30 min, 4, 12 and 48 h after embolization, electroretinography (ERG) and fluorescein angiography (FA) were performed. The eyeballs were enucleated for transmission electron-microscopic study.

RESULTS

FA revealed multiple leaking points at 30 min, and prominent diffuse leakage at 4 h when scotopic b-waves showed significant differences between the study and control eyes. Multiple focal disruptions of the blood vessels by fat vacuoles were found with electron microscopic study. ERG improved at 12 and 48 h, and the BRB appeared to be recovered on FA and electron microscopic studies after 48 h.

CONCLUSION

An experimental embolism with triolein emulsion disrupted the blood retinal barrier. Delayed maximal change was observed, and it could be implicated in the latent interval of clinical fat embolism syndrome.