The association of conjunctival inflammatory cells with the results of combined cataract extraction and filtration surgery.

We studied conjunctival biopsy specimens from 30 consecutive patients undergoing combined cataract extraction with posterior chamber lens implantation and trabeculectomy to determine if inflammatory cell counts and tissue structure are predictive for postoperative intraocular pressure control. We classified intraocular pressure control postoperatively by grouping patients in three ways: first, by ease of intraocular pressure control (patients with < 16 mm Hg receiving from no medicine to two glaucoma medicines vs. those with >/= 16 mm Hg or receiving three glaucoma medicines); second, by those who had improved versus worsened intraocular pressure control postoperatively compared to before surgery; and third, by those who had bleb elevation versus no bleb formation. With all three classifications no statistical difference existed between groups of patients in the number of goblet cells, mast cells, neutrophils, eosinophils, macrophages, plasma cells, lymphocytes, or fibroblasts, as well as in epithelium thickness or vascular density (p > 0.05, Student's t test). Also, no statistical difference existed in mucopolysaccharide or collagen staining between groups of patients (p > 0.05, Mann-Whitney U test). This study suggests that conjunctival inflammatory cell counts or tissue structure, which can be evaluated histologically, are not associated with postoperative intraocular pressure control following combined cataract extraction and trabeculectomy.