Filtering bleb area and intraocular pressure following subconjunctival injection of CTGF antibody after glaucoma filtration surgery in rabbits.

AIM To study the role of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) antibody in inhibiting bleb scarring after glaucoma filtration surgery (GFS) in rabbit model. METHODS GFS was performed on both eyes in five rabbits. One eye of each rabbit was chosen randomly as antibody group and received subconjunctival injection of 0.1mL CTGF antibody (50mg/L) immediately after GFS applied and on the 5 th day after GFS. The other eye of each rabbit as control group was received subconjunctival injection of 0.1mL PBS at the same time as antibody group. On postoperative days 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, and 14, the appearance of filtrating blebs was observed under slit lamp, the area and the intraocular pressure (IOP) were measured with micrometer and applanation tonometer, respectively. RESULTS On postoperative days 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, and 14, areas of filtrating blebs in antibody group were all larger comparing with the control group (P<0.05) and IOPs of antibody group were lower than the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Subconjunctival injection of CTGF antibody can maintain larger bleb area and lower IOP after GFS in rabbit.