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

• Robert Siggel ^[1] ; Falk Schroedl ^[2] ; Thomas Dietlein ^[1] ; Konrad R. Koch ^[1] ; Christian Platzl ^[2] ; Alexandra Kaser-Eichberger ^[2] ; Claus Cursiefen ^[1] ; Ludwig M. Heindl ^[1]
  1. [1] University of Cologne

     University of Cologne

     Kreisfreie Stadt Köln, Alemania

     
  2. [2] Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
• Localización: Histology and histopathology: cellular and molecular biology, ISSN-e 1699-5848, ISSN 0213-3911, Vol. 35, Nº. 12, 2020, págs. 1521-1531
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Purpose. To evaluate the presence and appearance of blood and lymphatic vessels in nonfunctioning 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 bloodvessels but absence of lymphatic vessels in nonfunctioning 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.