[Treatment of eye burns with a polyvalent proteolytic inhibitor]

Abstract

The present paper reports the results of a study on the use of a polyvalent proteolysis inhibitor (Gordox), the active agent of which is aprotinin, in early stages of ocular burn injuries. Following experimental corneal burns, Gordox influenced the activity of proteolytic enzymes in ocular tissue and morphologic changes in the cornea. Various administration methods were studied--instillation, and subconjunctival and intravenous injection. The preparation reduced the activity of proteolytic enzymes in the burned region of the cornea by a factor of two and led to "stages" in healing processes, thus preventing severe complications following ocular burns. In 98 patients (152 eyes) with ocular burn injuries, Gordox was found to be highly efficacious: in particular, it reduced the severity of inflammation in ocular tissues and considerably decreased the incidence of corneal perforations.