Quantitative assessment of inflammation and vascularization of pterygia using digital photographs

• Grant number: 23/08174-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2024
• End date: June 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Silvana Artioli Schellini
• Grantee: Ana Gabriela Alves Pereira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FMB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Pterygium may have a multifactorial origin, with inflammation being one of the etiopathogenic factors. Using lysamine green, a vital dye, we intend to demonstrate the existence and intensity of chronic inflammation occurring in eyes with pterygium, as well as the variation in response to anti-angiogenic injections. Furthermore, we intend to quantitatively evaluate the conjunctival vessels and the repercussions of the injection of anti-angiogenic drugs on the pterygium.Objective: 1. evaluate the ocular surface under the effect of lysamine green, observing possible signs of chronic inflammation; 2. evaluate using two imaging systems the conjunctival vessels of pterygia before and after anti-angiogenic injection, using digital photographs.Method: a prospective study, including pterygium carriers to be investigated with the topical use of lysamine green on the ocular surface before and after the use of anti-angiogenic drugs. Furthermore, we intend to evaluate the vascularization of the eyes of patients with pterygium, before and after subconjunctival injections of bevacizumab (Avastin®; F-Hoffman-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland). The patients' eyes will be documented before, 30, 90, 120 and 180 days after the subconjunctival injection of 5 mg of the anti-angiogenic agent. The images will be transferred to a personal computer and processed with the Adobe Photoshop program and the ImageJ program, quantifying areas stained by lysamine green, the size of the pterygium head, and the conjunctival vessels. The obtained data will be statistical analyzed.