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Permeability of the blood-retinal barrier in healthy humans

European concerted action on ocular fluorometry

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Abstract

• Background: The aim of the study was to compare the inward permeability of the blood-retinal barrier in healthy subjects from six European cities. • Methods: Seventy-two healthy subjects (age 20–70 years) were selected. At 30 min and 60 min after fluorescein injection, fluorescein mass in vitreous was calculated from the concentrations measured along the optical axis of the eye. Non-protein-bound fluorescein (NPBF) concentrations were measured in plasma prepared from blood samples taken 7, 15 and 55 min after injection. Blood-retinal barrier permeability (PBRB) was calculated from the vitreous fluorescein mass and the time integral of NPBF and was corrected for the autofluorescence of ocular tissue and for lenticular light transmittance. • Results: Mean PBRB values±SD (nm-−1) were 2.07±0.54 (Coimbra), 2.01±0.43 (Frankfurt), 2.24±0.50 (Ghent), 2.37±0.56 (Herlev), 1.89±0.44 (Leiden) and 1.74±0.38 (Porto). Differences between centers were not significant (P>0.35). Measurements were reproducible and independent of the time after fluorescein injection (P>0.50). A PBRB higher than 3.16 nm·s−1 or a value which had increased by 32% was considered abnormal (P<0.05). • Conclusion: PBRB values were similar in all centers. The results demonstrate that this is a highly sensitive and reliable method for measuring the permeability of the blood-retinal barrier.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, J3-S, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Hilderik J. Van Schaik & Jaap A. Van Best

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, University Clinic, Ghent, Belgium

    Bernard Heintz

  3. Department of Ophthalmology, University Clinic, Herlev, Denmark

    Michael Larsen

  4. Department of Ophthalmology, University Clinic, Coimbra, Portugal

    Eugenio Leite

  5. Department of Ophthalmology, University Clinic, Porto, Portugal

    Vitor Rosas

  6. Department of Ophthalmology, University Clinic, Frankfurt, Germany

    Rainer Schalnus

Authors
  1. Hilderik J. Van Schaik
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  2. Bernard Heintz
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  3. Michael Larsen
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  4. Eugenio Leite
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  5. Vitor Rosas
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  6. Rainer Schalnus
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  7. Jaap A. Van Best
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Correspondence to Jaap A. Van Best.

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Van Schaik, H.J., Heintz, B., Larsen, M. et al. Permeability of the blood-retinal barrier in healthy humans. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 235, 639–646 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00946940

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00946940

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