OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of contact transscleral diode laser treatment and retinal cryotherapy on blood-retinal barrier integrity with the use of high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging techniques with constant infusion of gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA). METHODS: Transscleral diode laser photocoagulation and retinal cryotherapy were used to treat equivalent areas of the inferior retinal periphery of pigmented rabbits. Magnetic resonance imaging time-course studies with measurement of signal enhancements due to Gd-DTPA leakage were conducted 2 and 15 days following treatment. RESULTS: Two days following treatment, cryotherapy-treated eyes exhibited a mean (+/- SD) effective Gd-DTPA permeability coefficient of 4.6 +/- 0.8 x 10(-6) cm/s; in comparison, diode laser-treated eyes exhibited 1.6 x 1.4 x 10(-6) cm/s effective permeability. Significant decreases in the effective permeability were also noted 15 days after treatment in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Transscleral contact probe diode laser photocoagulation induces less disruption of the blood-retinal barrier than does conventional cryotherapy. In addition, the continuous infusion method of Gd-DTPA delivery is a reliable and easily interpretable alternative to the commonly used bolus injection approach.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of contact transscleral diode laser treatment and retinal cryotherapy on blood-retinal barrier integrity with the use of high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging techniques with constant infusion of gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA). METHODS: Transscleral diode laser photocoagulation and retinal cryotherapy were used to treat equivalent areas of the inferior retinal periphery of pigmented rabbits. Magnetic resonance imaging time-course studies with measurement of signal enhancements due to Gd-DTPA leakage were conducted 2 and 15 days following treatment. RESULTS: Two days following treatment, cryotherapy-treated eyes exhibited a mean (+/- SD) effective Gd-DTPA permeability coefficient of 4.6 +/- 0.8 x 10(-6) cm/s; in comparison, diode laser-treated eyes exhibited 1.6 x 1.4 x 10(-6) cm/s effective permeability. Significant decreases in the effective permeability were also noted 15 days after treatment in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Transscleral contact probe diode laser photocoagulation induces less disruption of the blood-retinal barrier than does conventional cryotherapy. In addition, the continuous infusion method of Gd-DTPA delivery is a reliable and easily interpretable alternative to the commonly used bolus injection approach.
Authors: J A Haller; N Blair; E de Juan; S de Bustros; M F Goldberg; T Muldoon; K Packo; K Resnick; R Rosen; M Shapiro; W Smiddy; J Walsh Journal: Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc Date: 1997