Injection of autologous blood for bleb leaks in New Zealand white rabbits.

PURPOSE: Bleb leaks after trabeculectomy with antimetabolites can be recalcitrant to therapy. Peribleb autologous blood injections are a moderately successful new treatment modality for such leaks. However, it is unclear what mechanism the injections work to achieve leak resolution.

METHODS

A randomized, prospective study in the rabbit model was undertaken to evaluate further the clinical and histologic effects of peribleb autologous blood injection after leak induction in mitomycin-C exposed blebs, compared to controls that received only peribleb balanced salt solution injections.

RESULTS

In the blood-treated eyes, all bleb leaks healed. Control eyes either demonstrated persistent bleb leaks with shallow anterior chambers or failed blebs that were Seidel negative. Histologic results were remarkable for increased peribleb cellularity and collagen deposition in the blood-treated eyes, compared to controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Peribleb autologous blood injections are associated with bleb leak resolution, increased peribleb cellularity, and collagen deposition in the rabbit model.