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Claus Eckardt

Publications and source records attributed to Claus Eckardt.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Effect of verteporfin photodynamic therapy on endostatin and angiogenesis in human choroidal neovascular membranes.

AIM: To evaluate the effect of verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT) on endostatin with regard to expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in human choroidal neovascular membranes (CNVs) secondary to age-related macular degeneration. METHODS: A retrospective review of an interventional case series of 68 patients who underwent removal of CNV. 29 patients were treated with PDT 3-655 days before surgery. 39 CNVs without previous treatment were used as controls. CNVs were stained for CD34, CD105, Ki-67, cytokeratin 18, endostatin, E-selectin and VEGF. "Predominance score of VEGF over endostatin" (mean) was defined as the difference between VEGF and endostatin staining scores. RESULTS: In four CNVs treated by PDT 3 days previously, PS was significantly higher in the retinal pigment epithelium (mean = 2.5, p = 0.006) and stroma (mean = 2, p = 0.015) than in the control group (mean = 0). At longer post-PDT intervals, PS was significantly decreased in the retinal pigment epithelium (mean = 0, p = 0.019) and stroma (mean = 0, p = 0.015). Proliferative activity was high (p = 0.023), but mostly related to inflammatory cells. PDT did not influence E-selectin expression significantly. CONCLUSIONS: VEGF predominance over endostatin early after PDT might contribute to enhanced angiogenic activity associated with recurrences. Strategies upregulating or replacing endostatin early after PDT might increase the effectiveness of PDT.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Expression of VEGF and PEDF in choroidal neovascular membranes following verteporfin photodynamic therapy.

PURPOSE: To examine the impact of photodynamic therapy (PDT) on pigment epithelium derived factor (PEDF) expression in human choroidal neovascularization (CNV) membranes with regard to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression. DESIGN: Interventional case series. METHODS: Retrospective review of interventional case series of 42 patients (42 eyes) who underwent removal of CNV. CNV was secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in all cases. Fifteen patients were treated with PDT, 3 to 246 days before surgery. CNV were stained for CD34, CD105, cytokeratin 18, VEGF, and PEDF. Twenty-seven CNV without previous treatment were used as control. RESULTS: Specimens without pretreatment disclosed varying degrees of vascularization, VEGF, and PEDF expression by different cells. Specimens treated by PDT, three days previously showed mostly occluded vessels lined with damaged endothelial cells (EC). In contrast, specimens excised at later time points after PDT were highly vascularized with healthy EC. This chronology was associated with an impressive VEGF immunoreactivity increased considerably in retinal pigment epithelial cells as well as significantly reduced PEDF expression in EC and stroma. CONCLUSIONS: PDT induces a selective vascular damage in CNV. The effectiveness of PDT, however, seems to be jeopardized by a rebound effect initiated by an enhanced VEGF and reduced PEDF expression in CNV.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Macular translocation in a patient with adult-onset foveomacular vitelliform dystrophy with light- and electron-microscopic observations on the surgically removed subfoveal tissue.

PURPOSE: To correlate the functional results of macular translocation (MT) in a patient suffering from an adult-onset foveomacular vitelliform dystrophy (AFVD) with the microscopic findings of the surgically removed subfoveal retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). METHODS: A 78-year-old woman with AFVD underwent MT with 360 degrees retinotomy 3-4 months after loss of reading ability. Most of the vitelliform material was lost during surgery; the subfoveal tissue was excised, fixed in aldehydes, postfixed in reduced OsO4 and embedded in epoxy resin. Semithin sections were stained with toluidine blue for light microscopy (LM) and thin sections with uranyl acetate and lead citrate for transmission electron microscopy (TEM). RESULTS: Postoperatively, the patient developed a retinal detachment complicated by proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) requiring two additional vitreoretinal procedures before finally the silicone oil could be removed. Twenty-two months after MT the distance visual acuity was unchanged at 0.2; the near visual acuity had improved from less than 0.1 before MT to 0.4. The retina was completely attached. LM and TEM revealed serious alterations indicative of a breakdown of the outer layer of the retina. CONCLUSION: Through the present single case it is not possible to determine whether MT could be a therapeutic approach in patients with AFVD. The most important cause for the limited postoperative visual improvement seems to be a primary injury of the foveal function due to the AFVD. This is supported by the extensive subfoveal degeneration and necrosis affecting not only the RPE cells but also their basement membrane and the interposed basal laminar deposits.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Trypan blue staining in vitreoretinal surgery.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of trypan blue for staining the internal limiting membrane (ILM) and epiretinal membranes (ERM) in vitreoretinal surgery. DESIGN: Prospective noncomparative case series. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty eyes of 50 patients with macular pucker (n = 22), macular hole (n = 18), or a combination (n = 2), proliferative vitreoretinopathy (n = 5), or diabetic retinopathy (n = 3). METHODS: Trypan blue 0.2% was used to stain the ILM or ERM during vitreoretinal surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The intraoperative visibility of the membranes was scored as poor, moderate, good, or excellent. RESULTS: The application of trypan blue onto the ILM or the ERM resulted in a useful bluish staining, facilitating the identification, delineation, and removal of the membranes in all surgeries. No residual staining or adverse effects related to the dye were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Trypan blue stains both ILM and ERM and might be an useful tool in vitreoretinal surgery.

Adult↗