Histology and immunohistochemistry of fibrous posterior capsule opacification in an infant

• Published in: Journal of cataract and refractive surgery Vol. 30; no. 2; pp. 523 - 526
• Main Authors: Shirai, Kumi, Saika, Shizuya, Okada, Yuka, Oda, Seiji, Ohnishi, Yoshitaka
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.02.2004; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Actins - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Cataract - diagnosis; Cataract - metabolism; Cataract Extraction; Collagen - metabolism; Epithelial Cells - metabolism; Epithelial Cells - pathology; Female; Fibronectins - metabolism; Fibrosis; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Infant; Lens Capsule, Crystalline - metabolism; Lens Capsule, Crystalline - pathology; Lens Implantation, Intraocular; Medical sciences; Postoperative Complications; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the eye and orbit; Vimentin - metabolism; Human; Immunohistochemistry; Opacification; Anatomic pathology; Treatment; Surgery; Posterior; Infant; Capsule; Hard capsule; Histology; Ophthalmology
• ISSN: 0886-3350; 1873-4502
• DOI: 10.1016/S0886-3350(03)00616-3

We report the histological findings in posterior capsule opacification (PCO) in 2 eyes of a 10-month-old infant 8 months after cataract extraction and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. The PCO in the right eye had a regenerated lenticular structure; in the left eye, it was fibrotic. The PCO in the right eye was soft and aspirated with Simcoe's irrigation/aspiration cannula; in the left eye, it was excised surgically. Paraffin sections of the fibrous PCO tissue from the left eye were examined histologically. Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation and the presence of elongated fibroblastic cells, presumed to be lens epithelial cells (LECs). Immunohistochemistry revealed the presence of fibrous collagen types and cellular fibronectin. The presumed LECs amid the ECM were positive for vimentin and α-smooth muscle actin. Histology of the fibrous PCO tissue from this infant was similar to that in adult patients.