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. 2020 Dec;35(12):1521-1531.
doi: 10.14670/HH-18-300. Epub 2020 Dec 31.

Absence of lymphatic vessels in non-functioning bleb capsules of glaucoma drainage devices

Robert Siggel #  1   2 , Falk Schroedl #  3 , Thomas Dietlein  1 , Konrad R Koch  1 , Christian Platzl  3 , Alexandra Kaser-Eichberger  3 , Claus Cursiefen  1   4 , Ludwig M Heindl  1
Affiliations

Absence of lymphatic vessels in non-functioning bleb capsules of glaucoma drainage devices

Robert Siggel et al. Histol Histopathol. 2020 Dec.

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the presence and appearance of blood and lymphatic vessels in non-functioning bleb capsules of glaucoma drainage devices (GDD).

Materials and methods: Non-functioning (n=14) GDD-bleb capsules of 12 patients were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for blood vessels (CD31, vascular endothelium), lymphatic vessels (lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor-1 [LYVE-1] and podoplanin) and macrophages (CD68).

Results: CD31+++ blood vessels and CD68+ macrophages were detected in the outer layer of all specimens. LYVE-1 immunoreactivity was registered in single non-endothelial cells in 8 out of 14 (57%) bleb capsule specimens. Podoplanin-immunoreactivity was detected in all cases, located in cells and profiles of the collagen tissue network of the outer and/or the inner capsule layer. However, a colocalization of LYVE-1 and podoplanin as evidence for lymphatic vessels was not detected.

Conclusions: We demonstrate the presence of blood-vessels but absence of lymphatic vessels in non-functioning bleb capsules after GDD-implantation. While the absence of lymphatic vessels might indicate a possible reason for drainage device failure, this needs to be confirmed in upcoming studies, including animal experiments.

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