Natural Evolution of Experimental Vitreous Hemorrhage and Effects of Corticosteroids on Its Course

Abstract

Introduction The course and prognosis of vitreous hemorrhage (VH) are difficult to predict in spite of so far published experimental and clinical studies.

Objective The goal of this study was to follow the course and evaluate prognosis of vitreous hemorrhage.

Methods The experiment was performed on 19 Chinchilla rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), both males and females (38 eyes), weighing 2500-3000 g, which were treated with autologous blood (B) from marginal ear vein – the first group, and the second group was treated with both blood and corticosteroids (B+CS). The course of vitreous hemorrhage was examined.

Results Our results have shown that the cellular reaction to vitreous hemorrhage is different, compared to hemorrhage in other types of tissue, which is due to absence of an early polymorphonuclear cellular reaction. Number of cells within vitreous body is very low.

Conclusion Vitreous hemorrhage has unusual course followed by a small number of cells (mostly polymorphonuclear cells). This is most important fact why VH is cleared very slowly (about 6 to 9 weeks). CS has moderate influence on the acceleration of VH absorption.

Keywords: vitreous hemorrhage; natural course; corticosteroids; rabbits