An in vivo evaluation of Brilliant Blue G in animals and humans

TY - JOUR

T1 - An in vivo evaluation of Brilliant Blue G in animals and humans

AU - Remy, M

AU - Thaler, S

AU - Schumann, R G

AU - May, C A

AU - Fiedorowicz, M

AU - Schuettauf, F

AU - Grüterich, M

AU - Priglinger, S G

AU - Nentwich, M M

AU - Kampik, A

AU - Haritoglou, C

PY - 2008/8

Y1 - 2008/8

N2 - BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate the retinal toxicity of Brilliant Blue G (BBG) following intravitreal injection in rat eyes and examine the biocompatibility and the staining properties in humans.METHODS: BBG was injected into the 11 rat eyes to evaluate toxic effects with balanced salt solution (BSS) serving as control. Retinal toxicity was assessed by retinal ganglion cell (RGC) counts and by light microscopy 7 days later. In addition, BBG was applied during vitrectomy for macular hole (MH) (n = 15) or epiretinal membranes (ERM) (n = 3) in a prospective, non-comparative consecutive series of patients. Before and after surgery, all patients underwent a complete clinical examination including measurement of best corrected visual acuity (VA) and intraocular pressure, perimetry, fundus photography and optical coherence tomography. Patients were seen 1 day before surgery and then in approximately four weeks intervals.RESULTS: No significant reduction in RGC numbers and no morphological alterations were noted. A sufficient staining of the internal limiting membrane (ILM) was seen in patients with MH, while the staining pattern in ERM cases was patchy, indicating that parts of the ILM were peeled off along with the ERM in a variable extent. All MHs could be closed successfully. VA improved in 10 eyes (56%; 8/15 MH patients, 2/3 ERM patients), was unchanged in four eyes (22%; all MH patients) and was reduced in four eyes (22%; 3/15 MH, 1/3 ERM). No toxic effects attributable to the dye were noted during patient follow-up. The ultrastructure of tissue harvested during surgery was unremarkable.CONCLUSION: Brilliant Blue provides a sufficient and selective staining of the ILM. No retinal toxicity or adverse effects related to the dye were observed in animal and human studies. The long-term safety of this novel dye will have to be evaluated in larger patient series and a longer follow-up.

AB - BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate the retinal toxicity of Brilliant Blue G (BBG) following intravitreal injection in rat eyes and examine the biocompatibility and the staining properties in humans.METHODS: BBG was injected into the 11 rat eyes to evaluate toxic effects with balanced salt solution (BSS) serving as control. Retinal toxicity was assessed by retinal ganglion cell (RGC) counts and by light microscopy 7 days later. In addition, BBG was applied during vitrectomy for macular hole (MH) (n = 15) or epiretinal membranes (ERM) (n = 3) in a prospective, non-comparative consecutive series of patients. Before and after surgery, all patients underwent a complete clinical examination including measurement of best corrected visual acuity (VA) and intraocular pressure, perimetry, fundus photography and optical coherence tomography. Patients were seen 1 day before surgery and then in approximately four weeks intervals.RESULTS: No significant reduction in RGC numbers and no morphological alterations were noted. A sufficient staining of the internal limiting membrane (ILM) was seen in patients with MH, while the staining pattern in ERM cases was patchy, indicating that parts of the ILM were peeled off along with the ERM in a variable extent. All MHs could be closed successfully. VA improved in 10 eyes (56%; 8/15 MH patients, 2/3 ERM patients), was unchanged in four eyes (22%; all MH patients) and was reduced in four eyes (22%; 3/15 MH, 1/3 ERM). No toxic effects attributable to the dye were noted during patient follow-up. The ultrastructure of tissue harvested during surgery was unremarkable.CONCLUSION: Brilliant Blue provides a sufficient and selective staining of the ILM. No retinal toxicity or adverse effects related to the dye were observed in animal and human studies. The long-term safety of this novel dye will have to be evaluated in larger patient series and a longer follow-up.

KW - Aged

KW - Animals

KW - Benzenesulfonates/toxicity

KW - Cell Count

KW - Coloring Agents/toxicity

KW - Epiretinal Membrane/diagnosis

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Prospective Studies

KW - Rats

KW - Rats, Inbred BN

KW - Retina/drug effects

KW - Retinal Ganglion Cells/drug effects

KW - Retinal Perforations/surgery

KW - Staining and Labeling/methods

KW - Vitrectomy/methods

U2 - 10.1136/bjo.2008.138164

DO - 10.1136/bjo.2008.138164

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 18653608

VL - 92

SP - 1142

EP - 1147

JO - BRIT J OPHTHALMOL

JF - BRIT J OPHTHALMOL

SN - 0007-1161

IS - 8

ER -