Immunohistochemical Characterization of Sub Retinal Membranes (SRMs) in Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy

Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy (PVR) describes the process of ectopic cell proliferation that follows rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). This proliferation commonly occurs in the vitreous or the periretinal area [1]. The retina society first described the term Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy (PVR) in 1983 [2]. The disease was later classified by the Silicone Study Group into different groups based on the severity (minimal to massive), location of the proliferation (anterior to posterior), and the type of the contraction (diffuse, focal, sub retinal, and circumferential) [3]. A grading system was also introduced to PVR that includes grade A, B, and C. In this study we are mostly interested in grade C that represents PVR with sub retinal membranes (SRM) or bands [4]. We describe the histopathological and immunohistochemical features of such a proliferation with summary of the main difference in the constituents between SRM and epi retinal membranes (ERM).