Toxicity of vancomycin on corneal endothelium in rabbits

Abstract

ABSTRACT.Purpose: To evaluate the toxic effect of vancomycin on the corneal endothelium related to concentrations of vancomycin. Methods: The toxic effect is assessed with a weighing method that gives a measure of endothelial function. Thirty-three rabbit corneas were divided into four groups. Three groups of seven corneas each were exposed to concentrations of 1.0 mg/ml, 3.0 mg/ml and 5.0 mg/ml vancomycin, respectively. The fourth group of twelve corneas served as a control group. Results: The corneas exposed to 1.0 mg/ml vancomycin showed no significant weight increase, while the corneas exposed to 3.0 mg/ml and 5.0 mg/ml showed a significant weight increase as compared to the control corneas. The weight increase was significantly larger in the group of corneas exposed to 5.0 mg/ml as compared to 3.0 mg/ml. Conclusions: In the interval of tested concentrations there is a dose response relationship between vancomycin concentrations and endothelial toxicity. This experiment shows that vancomycin in the concentration of 1.0 mg/ml is nontoxic to the endothelium, while 3.0 mg/ml and 5.0 mg/ml increasingly impair endothelial function.

The influence of various toxic effects on the cornea and changes in corneal light transmission

“…Corneal swelling takes place due to the damage of the corneal epithelium [13,14] or endothelium [11,12,15,16], which in turns disturbs the normal corneal deturgescence mechanisms by which the cornea maintains normal hydration and hence transparency; the corneal thickness is increased, resulting in increased scatter [17]. Normal corneal hydration is necessary for the maintenance of corneal transparency.…”

Descemet′s membrane detachment caused by inadvertent vancomycin injection

“…Knowledge of the possible effects of antibiotic agents and their diluents on the corneal stroma in their intracameral dose is limited. Sandboe et al ., have reported that vancomycin in the concentration of 1.0 mg/ml is nontoxic to the rabbit endothelium 10. A PubMed search revealed case reports of DMD following accidental injection of fluids like viscoelastics 2,3,6,7…”

Influence of temperature on corneas stored in culture medium. A comparative study using functional and morphological methods

“…They were then suspended in a standard medium (RPMI 1640 with glutamin and Hepes buffer). Gentamicin 0.08 mg/mL and vancomycin 0.1 mg/ mL were used as an antibiotic supplement in the medium (Sandboe & Medin 1998). The osmolality of the supplemented medium was 304 mOsm.…”