RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Ocular toxicity of desferrioxamine: light microscopic histochemical and ultrastructural findings.
JF British Journal of Ophthalmology
JO Br J Ophthalmol
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.
SP 373
OP 381
DO 10.1136/bjo.70.5.373
VO 70
IS 5
A1 Rahi, A H
A1 Hungerford, J L
A1 Ahmed, A I
YR 1986
UL http://bjo.bmj.com/content/70/5/373.abstract
AB This study documents for the first time light and electron microscopical changes in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) following treatment with high dose desferrioxamine for systemic iron overload. The changes include loss of microvilli from the apical surface, patchy depigmentation, vacuolation of the cytoplasm, swelling and calcification of mitochondria, and disorganisation of the plasma membrane. In addition, Bruch's membrane overlying degenerate RPE cells appeared abnormally thickened owing to the accumulation of large amounts of mature elastic fibres, pre-elastic oxytalan, and long spacing collagen. The specificity of these changes and the mechanism of toxicity are discussed.