Immunohistochemistry of anterior proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Report of 11 cases.

Anterior proliferative vitreoretinopathy is characterized by epiretinal proliferation that extends anteriorly over the vitreous base, and may, in addition to the cells usually contributing to proliferative vitreoretinopathy, also contain cells of ocular structures located in that area. We examined 11 complete globes with aPVR that were enucleated after previous severe trauma or perforating injuries (n = 8) and complicated retinal detachment (n = 3) by a panel of immunohistochemical markers. We found presence of RPE, glial cells, macrophages and fibrocytes, as consistently reported in PVR membranes. In addition, T-cell lymphocytes were present in 6 of the cases, and cells expressing the common leucocyte antigen on 8 cases. Cells staining positive for the intracytoplasmic contractile filament alpha-smooth muscle actin were present in 5 cases and cells staining for desmin in one case. Collagen type IV was part of most of the membranes, and vessels with leakage of plasma factors were present in more than half of the cases.