[Proliferative vitreoretinopathy: relation to the extent of retinal detachment, size of retinal tears and coagulation surface].

Preretinal dispersion of stimulated RPE cells has been suggested as a possible cause of the development of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). Retinal detachment (RD) and retinal breaks are associated with an exposure of corresponding areas of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) which has been mechanically stimulated by coagulation. In a prospective, controlled study of 141 patients between 20 and 75 years of age, PVR grades were determined before and RD surgery and within six months following it PVR grades were correlated with the extent of RD, size of breaks, and area of coagulation. The severity of the PVR correlated significantly with both the extent of RD as well as the total number of coagulation exposures. There was a tendency toward higher grades of PVR with larger retinal breaks. The results are compatible with the hypothesis that at least certain variations of PVR are caused by preretinal dispersion of stimulated RPE cells.