Architectural and biochemical expressions of mustard gas keratopathy: preclinical indicators and pathogenic mechanisms.

ABSTRACT: A subset of victims of ocular sulfur mustard (SM) exposure develops an irreversible, idiotypic keratitis with associated secondary pathologies, collectively referred to as mustard gas keratopathy (MGK). MGK involves a progressive corneal degeneration resulting in chronic ocular discomfort and impaired vision for which clinical interventions have typically had poor outcomes. Using a rabbit corneal vapor exposure model, we previously demonstrated a clinical progression with acute and chronic sequelae similar to that observed in human casualties. However, a better understanding of the temporal changes that occur during the biphasic SM injury is crucial to mechanistic understanding and therapeutic development. Here we evaluate the histopathologic, biochemical and ultrastructural expressions of

SUBMITTER: McNutt P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3416783 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature