Long-term results after trabeculectomy with 5-fluorouracil

Trabeculectomy is among the first choice surgical treatments for glaucoma. Antimetabolites, especially mitomycin C, have improved the success rate. The aim of this study is to present the results of trabeculectomy with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). A total of 71 consecutive trabeculectomies with 5-FU for decompensated glaucoma with at least 1 year follow-up data were retrospectively evaluated. The absolute (without therapy) and relative (with therapy) success rates for glaucoma medication were determined for intraocular pressure (IOP) levels of a parts per thousand currency signaEuro parts per thousand 21 mmHg, a parts per thousand currency signaEuro parts per thousand 18 mmHg, a parts per thousand currency signaEuro parts per thousand 15 mmHg and a parts per thousand currency signaEuro parts per thousand 12 mmHg respectively. Postoperative 5-FU administration rates, needling procedures and complications were recorded. Sufficient follow-up data were available for a total of 55 patients. The average IOP was preoperatively 29.6 +/- 7.3 mmHg (3 +/- 1.4 active ingredients, partly acetazolamide), after 6 months 13.2 +/- 4.1 mmHg and after 1 year 13.7 +/- 4.3 mmHg. Complete success at 6 months postoperatively for the given pressure levels: were 92 %, 87 %, 79 % and 52 % and at 1 year 87 %, 84 %, 51 % and 56 %, respectively. Postoperative relative success for these pressure levels at 6 months were 96 %, 90 %, 81 % and 54 % and at 1 year 96 %, 93 %, 58 % and 58 %, respectively. Administrations of 5-FU postoperatively were no intervention (n = 30 patients), subconjunctival 5-FU administration (n = 25) and needling procedures (n = 6). A temporary hypotension with a shallow anterior chamber was seen in 6 patients, cataract development in 5 patients and 1 patient developed corneal decompensation (multiple previous operations before trabeculectomy). Trabeculectomy with intraoperative 5-FU administration showed very high success rates after 1 year. Serious complications were rarely seen. Intraoperative 5-FU administration can be considered as an alternative treatment to trabeculectomy with intraoperative use of mitomycin C.