Inhibition of intraocular proliferation by homoharringtonine. An experimental study.

Homoharringtonine, an alkaloid indigenous to China, was studied for its effect on fibroblast growth in cell culture and on intraocular proliferation produced in rabbits by injecting homologous fibroblasts into the vitreous. The results demonstrate that homoharringtonine reduced the cell growth by 50% at a concentration of 0.005 mg/l in vitro, significantly inhibited vitreous proliferation, and prevented the occurrence of retinal detachment in vivo. Light and electron microscopy revealed no ocular toxicity in drug-treated eyes. Homoharringtonine may be of considerable value in the prevention and treatment of intraocular proliferation in patients.