Outcome improvement of glaucoma filtration surgery through the effect of local rock‐inhibition on wound healing

Abstract

AbstractPurpose The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a local ROCK‐inhibitor; AMA0076 (Amakem NV) for improving surgical outcome, after glaucoma filtration surgery in a rabbit model.Methods The in vivo effects of local ROCK‐inhibition were investigated in a rabbit model of glaucoma filtration surgery (n=5 per histological analysis group). Topical treatment with AMA0076 (study eye) and vehicle (control eye) was administered every day 3x/day (9h/13h/17h) from day 1 after surgery. Treatment outcome was studied by clinical investigation (IOP; intraocular pressure, bleb area and bleb survival) as well as immunohistological analyses for inflammation (CD45), angiogenesis (CD31) and collagen deposition (Sirius Red) at day 3, 8 and 14 after surgery.Results Bleb survival showed no difference between treated and non‐treated eyes however, there a trend (p=0,09) can be distinguished. Topical treatment of AMA0076 reduced inflammation on day 3 (p=0.036) and day 8 (p=0.044) as well as angiogenesis on day 8 (p=0.04). There were no differences in collagen deposition.Conclusion Targeting ROCK with a local ROCK inhibitor, AMA0076, is efficacious in reducing inflammation and angiogenesis on several time points in a rabbit model of glaucoma surgery. These results render ROCK an interesting target to increase the success rate of filtration surgery and point to potential therapeutic benefits of the local ROCK inhibitor, AMA0076.