Resolution of epithelial ingrowth in a patient treated with 5-fluorouracil.

Abstract

To report the effect of 5-fluorouracil on the outcome of a single case of epithelial ingrowth secondary to a wound leak after a complicated penetrating keratoplasty. Case report. A 44-year-old man with extensive epithelial ingrowth after trauma and a penetrating keratoplasty received a fluid-gas exchange followed by two injections of 500 microg of 5-fluorouracil into the anterior chamber. Two weeks after receiving the 5-fluorouracil injections, complete disappearance of the epithelial ingrowth from the anterior chamber occurred. No evidence of recurrence was detectable at 5 months. Use of 5-fluorouracil is a potentially effective treatment of epithelial ingrowth, particularly in eyes with extensive involvement, in which the risks of traditional ablative therapeutic modalities are considerable.