Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate the effect of a topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (0.1% pranoprofen) on the expression of VEGF and Cox-2 in primary pterygium.Methods: This was a prospective, randomized study. Between January 2019 and April 2020, 120 patients diagnosed with primary pterygium were enrolled and randomly divided into three groups before operation: 1) 40 patients in group 1 received topical pranoprofen 0.1% four times daily for 4 weeks, 2) 40 patients in group 2 received topical fluorometholone 0.1% four times daily for 4 weeks, and 3) patients in group 3 did not receive treatment. For each group, the age, sex, eye type, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), duration of onset, combined systemic diseases, and the results regarding vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and cyclo-oxygen-ase-2 (COX-2) in postoperative pterygial tissues were evaluated in detail.Results: There were no significant differences regarding age, sex, eye type, combined systemic diseases, duration of onset, IOP, and BCVA within the three groups (p > 0.05). The reduction of VEGF and CoX-2 expression of pterygial vascular endothelial cells in group 1 were statistically significant compared to group 2 and group 3 (p < 0.05). There were significant correlations between COX-2 and VEGF expression of pterygial tissues within the three groups (p < 0.05).Conclusion: The present findings suggested that the topical pranoprofen 0.1% could reduce the expression of VEGF and COX-2 in primary pterygium. We confirmed that treatment with pranoprofen offers advantages in early intervention and has therapeutic potential in reducing the postoperative recurrence of primary pterygium patients.Clinical Trial registration: The study was registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry. (http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx, Registration Number: ChiCTR2100047726).
Highlights
Pterygium is a common, benign conjunctival degenerative disease with a global prevalence, characterized by a proliferative disorder or a neoplastic-like growth lesion in the cornea (Van Acker et al, 2019); its exact pathogenesis is not fully understood (Detorakis and Spandidos, 2009).There are some existing clinical guidelines for treating primary pterygium
The reduction of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and CoX-2 expression of pterygial vascular endothelial cells in group 1 were statistically significant compared to group 2 and group 3 (p < 0.05)
The present findings suggested that the topical pranoprofen 0.1% could reduce the expression of VEGF and COX-2 in primary pterygium
Summary
Benign conjunctival degenerative disease with a global prevalence, characterized by a proliferative disorder or a neoplastic-like growth lesion in the cornea (Van Acker et al, 2019); its exact pathogenesis is not fully understood (Detorakis and Spandidos, 2009).There are some existing clinical guidelines for treating primary pterygium. Benign conjunctival degenerative disease with a global prevalence, characterized by a proliferative disorder or a neoplastic-like growth lesion in the cornea (Van Acker et al, 2019); its exact pathogenesis is not fully understood (Detorakis and Spandidos, 2009). Monitoring is the indicated form of management in the early stages (Guo et al, 2019). Several interventional methods have been proposed in advanced cases, including conjunctival autograft, amniotic membrane, and other adjuvant therapies (Guo et al, 2019). No surgical methods can completely prevent the recurrence of pterygium (Clearfield et al, 2017). Preventing the growth of the early pterygium or reducing its postoperative recurrence is worthy of study
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