[Is there drug alternative in the treatment of massive periretinal proliferation? (author's transl)].

Only a small percentage of eyes with massive periretinal proliferation (MPP) can be successfully treated by vitrectomy. This is due to the reproliferation of cells which combine to form membranes, thus causing redetachment of the retina. These filaments and membranes are formed from "fibroblast-like" cells originating from the glia cells and pigmented epithelial cells. The author attempted to produce retinal detachment by traction in 20 rabbit eyes by means of intravitreally injected homologous fibroblasts (250,000 in 0.1 ml); this was successful in 11 cases (55%). In another series with 16 rabbit eyes, 1 ml dexamethasone alcohol was administered intravitreally in addition to the fibroblast transplantation in order to inhibit fibroblast activity. This resulted in retinal detachment by traction in one case only (6%). Hence the number of detachments by traction was significantly lower with eyes with additional intravitreal administration of dexamethasone.