Analysis of glycosaminoglycans of subretinal fluid in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment--preliminary report.

To determine the correlation between the types of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and the features of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, we analyzed the types of GAGs in the subretinal fluid of 20 eyes with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. The GAGs were analyzed by cellulose acetate two-dimensional electrophoresis. Hyaluronic acid alone (HA type) was found in 10 of the 20 eyes. A combination of chondroitin sulfate (chSA) and HA was present (chSA type) in 3 of the 20 eyes. A combination of dermatan sulfate (DS) and HA (DS type) was present in 7 of the 20 eyes. No correlation was found between the type of GAGs and the extent, the duration of detachment, location, size or type of break in the 20 eyes. Some correlation was found between the type of GAGs and the grade of vitreous haze, proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) and the number of surgeries. Retinal detachment with a demarcation line resulted in subretinal strand formation in the DS type eyes, while no such formation was seen in the subretinal space of the eyes of the chSA type. Vitreous haze of grade ( ) was seen in one eye of the DS type, but not seen in the other types. All 3 eyes with PVR of grade C were the DS type. The 2 eyes with reoperated surgeries were the DS type. The presence of DS may indicate an advanced condition of retinal detachment.