[Treatment of subretinal macular hemorrhages with intravitreous injections of tissue plasminogen activator and SF6 gas].

OBJECTIVE

Of our retrospective study was the estimation of the efficacy of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and intravitreal injections of SF6 gas in cases of subretinal macular haemorrhages.

METHODS

In 20 patients aged 23-83 years, the subretinal macular haemorrhages were diagnosed, due to senile macular degeneration (9), hypertension (3), myopic retinochoroidal degeneration (3), other retinal heredodegeneration (2), retinal macroaneurysm (2) and trauma (1). We injected the solution of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator--Actilise (Boehringer Ingelheim) into vitreous cavity of these eyes. After lowering IOP, the intravitreous injections of 0.5 ccm SF6 gas were done, and following 24 hours down head positioning were carried out.

RESULTS

The initial visual acuity before treatment was: HM or CF, from less then 1 meter in most of our cases (12 patients). The after treatment visual acuity ranged CF from 2 meters to 0.7. The early treatment conditioned better acuity. Even in cases of delayed treatment, the diminishing of central visual scotoma could be awaited.

CONCLUSIONS

The new method of treatment in cases with subretinal macular haemorrhages despite of its symptomatic characters seems to be helpful in restoring the central vision in some cases.