Original article 372 Arq Bras Oftalmol. 2019;82(5):372-6 http://dx.doi.org/10.5935/0004-2749.20190075 ■ A r q u i v o s b r a s i l e i r o s d e This content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attributions 4.0 International License. Topical cyclosporine A 0.05% before and after surgery to prevent pterygium recurrence Ciclosporina A 0,05% antes e após a cirurgia do pterígio para a prevenção da recorrência Roberta Lilian Fernandes de Sousa Meneghim1, Larissa Horikawa Satto1, Kryscia Leiko Natsuaki1, Alessandro Carvalho de Oliveira1, Carlos Roberto Padovani2, Magda Massae Hata Viveiros1, Silvana Artioli Schellini1 1. Department of Ophthalmology, Botucatu Medical School, Universidade Estadual Paulista “Julio de Mesquita Filho”, Botucatu, SP, Brazil. 2. Department of Biostatistic, Biosciences Institute, Universidade Estadual Paulista “Julio de Mesquita Filho”, Botucatu, SP, Brazil. Submitted for publication: May 18, 2018 Accepted for publication: December 29, 2018 Funding: No specific financial support was available for this study. Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest: The authors have no competing interests to disclose. Corresponding author: Silvana Artioli Schellini. Departamento de Oftalmologia, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu. Universidade Estadual Paulista – UNESP - Av. Prof. Montenegro s/n, Distrito de Rubião Júnior Botucatu - SP - 18610-000 - Brazil - E-mail: sartioli@fmb.unesp.br Approved by the following research ethics committee: Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu – Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (Protocolo CEP 3319- 2009). ABSTRACT | Purpose: We evaluated the role of the conjunctival flap rotation technique using 5-fluorouracil and adjuvant therapy with topical cyclosporine A at 0.05% during short pre- and postoperative periods for the prevention of primary pterygium recurrence. Methods: In this prospective study, 76 patients with primary pterygium (76 eyes) were categorized into two groups: the control group with 31 patients who did not receive cyclos- porine treatment, and the cyclosporine group with 45 patients who received topical cyclosporine A (0.05%) twice a day, for 10 days before and 10 days after the pterygium excision operations. Patients were examined for disease recurrence, side effects, and complications at 10 and 21 days, and at 2 and 6 months after the operation. Data on demography, systemic diseases, and ophthal- mologic histories were obtained from all patients, and these data were analyzed using descriptive statistics involving the absolute and relative percentages of frequency distribution. Goodman test was used for contrasts among multinomial populations to study the association between cyclosporine A and recurrence. Results: Most patients were between 30 and 60 years of age, and 67.1% were women. We confirmed a higher recurrence in patients with occupational sunlight exposure. The cyclosporine A used topically 10 days before and 10 days after the pterygium removal did not significantly reduce the recurrence of the pterygium. Conclusion: Topical 0.05% cyclosporine A when used for 10 days before and 10 days after the pterygium removal does not prevent or reduce the recurrence of primary pterygium. Keywords: Cyclosporine/administration and dosage; Pterygium/ prevention and control; Recurrence RESUMO | Objetivo: Avaliamos os resultados da técnica de rotação de retalho conjuntival com uso de 5-fluorouracil e terapia adjuvante com ciclosporina A tópica a 0,05%, usada no pré e pós-operatório por curto período, quanto à prevenção da recidiva do pterígio primário. Métodos: Estudo prospectivo, com 76 pacientes portadores de pterígio primário (76 olhos), divididos em dois grupos: controle com 31 pacientes que não receberam tratamento com ciclosporina e grupo ciclosporina com 45 pacientes que receberam ciclosporina tópica A (0,05%) duas vezes ao dia, por 10 dias antes e 10 dias após a cirurgia de excisão do pterígio. Os pacientes foram avaliados quanto à recorrência, efeitos colaterais e complicações com 10, 21 dias, 2 e 6 meses de pós-operatório. Dados demográficos, doenças sistêmicas e histórico oftalmológico foram coletados de todos os pacientes e esses dados foram analisados por meio de esta- tística descritiva envolvendo o percentual absoluto e relativo de distribuição de frequência. O teste de Goodman para contrastes entre populações multinomiais foi utilizado para o estudo da associação entre a ciclosporina A e a recorrência. Resultados: A maioria dos pacientes tinha entre 30 e 60 anos e 67,1% eram mulheres. Confirmamos uma maior recorrência em pacientes com exposição ocupacional ao sol. A ciclosporina A tópica utilizada 10 dias antes e 10 dias após a remoção do pterígio não reduziu significativamente a sua recorrência. Conclusão: A ciclosporina A tópica a 0,05% quando utilizada por 10 dias no pré e 10 dias no pós-operatório, não previne ou reduz a recidiva do pterígio primário significativamente. Descritores: Ciclosporina/administração & dosagem; Pterígio/ prevenção & controle; Recidiva INTRODUCTION Pterygium is a subepithelial fibrovascular hyperplasia of the conjunctival tissue that overgrows on the cornea, causing decreased visual acuity. Although there are Meneghim RLFS, et al. 373Arq Bras Oftalmol. 2019;82(5):372-6 several hypotheses on the pathogenesis of pterygium, the epidemiology of the disease remains uncertain(1). Exposure to ultraviolet radiation of sunlight and chronic conjunctival inflammation because of dust, wind, air pollution, and other environmental agents are associa- ted with pterygium development and recurrence after excision(2,3). Although surgical excision is the first-line treatment for pterygium, recurrence is a frequent com- plication. Use of different surgical techniques and adju- vant therapies such as mitomycin C(4), 5-fluorouracil(5,6), (5-FU), and Avastin(7) has not been completely successful in preventing the high recurrence rate(8), justifying the search for an ideal adjuvant therapy. Cyclosporine A (CsA), isolated from the fungus Toly- pocladium inflatum, is the first immunosuppressive drug that selectively allows immunomodulation of T cells without causing excessive toxicity(9). CsA is widely used for the treatment of aplastic anemia and prophylactic treatment of graft-versus-host disease after kidney, lung, heart, liver, or hematopoietic stem cell tran- plantation(10). In ophthalmology, CsA has proven safety and efficacy in the treatment of dry eyes(11) and vernal keratoconjunctivitis(12). In addition, CsA is used for the treatment of chronic ocular surface inflammatory disea- ses, such as blepharitis(13), punctate keratitis(14), chronic follicular conjunctivitis(15), and Behçet disease(16), as well as in pterygium, with promising outcomes(17-19), reducing the recurrence rate from 45.2% to 12.9% when applied for 6 months after the surgery(20). A recent meta-analysis revealed that conjunctival autograft and adjuvant the- rapy with cyclosporine eye drops(21) may be the best treatment for preventing pterygium recurrence. Few in vitro studies have demonstrated that CsA (0.05%) significantly reduces the proliferation of Tenon’s capsule fibroblasts from primary and recurrent pterygiums, as well as the proliferation of fibroblasts from the normal conjunctiva(22,23). Based on those results, we performed this study to evaluate the role of a conjunctival flap ro- tation technique using 5-FU and adjuvant therapy with topical CsA at 0.05% during short pre- and postoperative periods to prevent primary pterygium recurrence. METHODS Study groups This prospective controlled study was conducted in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration and was appro- ved by the Institutional Review Board and Research Ethics Committee of the Botucatu Medical School. Informed consent was obtained from all study participants. A total of 76 patients with primary pterygium (76 eyes) were randomly divided into either the control group (n=31) which received an antibiotic and steroid eye drops, four times a day for 21 postoperative days, or the CsA group (n=45) that received topical 0.05% CsA (Restasis, Allergan Pharmaceutical, Brazil), twice a day for 10 preoperative and 10 postoperative days, in addition to the same combination of an antibiotic and steroid eye drops that was used for the control group patients. At the end of the procedure, both groups received a 0.2-mL subconjunctival injection of 5-FU at 25 mg/mL, in the remaining pterygium body. The exclusion criteria were recurrent pterygium, pre- vious ocular surgeries (e.g., glaucoma filtering surgery), or concomitant ocular diseases (e.g., keratoconjunctivi- tis sicca, pemphigoid, or idiopathic stem cell deficiency). Data on demography (age, sex, and occupation), oph- thalmic history (symptoms, estimated time with the ptery gium, previous and current use of eye drops, and previous ocular surgery), and the presence of systemic diseases were obtained for all patients. The ophthalmic evaluations included visual acuity with and without optical correction and slit-lamp examina- tion. Pterygium was classified according to Cornand(24), as follows: grade I, pterygium head overgrowth on the cornea less than 2 mm; grade II, pterygium head over- growing on the cornea from 2 to 4 mm; and grade III, pterygium head overgrowing on the cornea more than 4 mm. In addition, pterygium types were categorized as atrophic or fleshy according to the lesion thickness. Pterygium recurrence was defined as regrowth of fibro- vascular tissue onto the clear cornea, in the region of previous pterygium removal. Surgical procedure Six surgeons performed all the operations at appro- ximate equal numbers and using the same surgical technique. After topical application of 0.5% proxyme- tacaine hydrochloride (Alcon, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil) and administration of subconjunctival anesthetic (lidocaine 2% with epinephrine; AstraZeneca, Cotia, SP, Brazil) under the pterygium body, the pterygium head was dissected from the cornea by using a number-15 bla- de and part of the pterygium body and Tenon capsule were removed using Westcott scissors. Subsequently, a superior and inferior conjunctival flap was slipped and the conjunctiva was closed at the limbal area using 10-0 nylon suture (Ethilon®; Ethicon, Sao Jose dos Campos, SP, Brazil), overlying the denuded sclera. All patients received a 0.2-mL subconjunctival injection of 5-FU at Topical cyclosporine A 0.05% before and after surgery to prevent pterygium recurrence 374 Arq Bras Oftalmol. 2019;82(5):372-6 25 mg/mL (Roche, Sao Paulo, Brazil) in the remaining pterygium body at the end of the procedure. A combina- tion of an antibiotic and steroid eye drops was instilled into the eye and an ointment containing retinoic acid, chloramphenicol, and vitamin A was applied to the eye, which was then covered with a double patch for 24 h. Outcome measures Patients were evaluated postoperatively after 10 (for removal of the sutures) and 21 days, and after 2 and 6 months. The main outcome measures included presence of pterygium recurrence, patient complaints, and other postoperative complications. Statistical analysis The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics in terms of absolute and relative percentages of frequency distribution. Goodman test was used for con- trasts among multinomial populations to evaluate the association between CsA and disease recurrence(25,26). The significance level was set at <0.5%. RESULTS Most patients were between 30 and 60 years of age, and 67.1% (n=51) were women (Table 1). There was no statistical association between age and pterygium recurrence (Table 2). Regarding exposure to UV radiation, 59 (77.63%) patients had high exposure to sunlight, whereas only 16 (21%) patients had occupations with low sunlight exposure (Table 1). Regarding pterygium onset, 16 (21%) patients had been experiencing pterygium from 1 to 3 years, 24 (31.58%) patients from 3 to 5 years, and 36 (47.37%) patients for more than 5 years. Regarding the eye drops that were previously used, 31 (40.79%) patients reported using no eye drops, whe- reas 41 (53.95%) were using eye drops without symptom improvement. The main ocular complaints reported by patients be- fore the surgery were hyperemia, burning, and/or foreign body sensation. Other complaints included tearing, itchiness, visual haze, pain, and swelling. Regarding pterygium grades, 38 (50%) patients were classified as having grade I disease, 30 (39.5%) as having grade II disease, and 6 (7.89%) as having grade III disea- se. The lesions were evenly distributed between both groups, and we found no statistical difference on the distribution of patients between groups according to the Table 1. Demographics and ophthalmic manifestations in patients who did not receive topical cyclosporine A at 0.05% (Control group) and in those who received the medication (CsA group) Control group CsA group p valuen (%) n (%) Age in years 20-30 2 (6.5) 5 (11.1) >0.05 31-40 12 (38.7) 6 (13.3) >0.05 41-50 8 (25.8) 12 (26.7) >0.05 51-60 5 (16.1) 15 (33.3) >0.05 >60 4 (12.9) 7 (15.6) >0.05 Gender Male 10 (32.3) 16 (35.6) >0.05 Female 21 (67.7) 30 (64.4) >0.05 Occupation UV exposure 22 (71.0) 38 (84.5) >0.05 No UV exposure 9 (29) 7 (15.5) >0.05 Pterygium grade Grade I 16 (55.2) 22 (50.0) >0.05 Grade II 11 (37.9) 18 (40.9) >0.05 Grade III 2 (6.9) 4 (9.1) >0.05 Recurrence Yes 19 (29,0) 18 (40.0) >0.05 No 12 (38.7) 27 (60.0) >0.05 p values represent 5% level of significance. Table 2. Age group distribution in patients with recurrence according to their use of cyclosporine A Age group Cyclosporine G2 G3 G4 G5 G6 p value Without CsA 2 (6.5) 12 (38.7) 8 (25.8) 5 (16.1) 4 (12.9) >0.05 With CsA 5 (11.1) 6 (13.3) 12 (26.7) 15 (33.3) 7 (15.6) >0.05 p value >0.05 >0.05 >0.05 >0.05 >0.05 pterygium classification. We found 53 (69.73%) atrophic and 23 (30.26%) fleshy pterygiums. The recurrence was higher in patients with profes- sional occupations that required increased exposure to sunlight (Table 1). We found that the pterygium grade or surgeon’s experience was not associated with the recurrence rate (Tables 3 and 4). Control group patients had more recurrences than CsA group patients, but the difference was not statisti- cally significant (p>0.05). Thus, our results showed that CsA used for 10 preoperative and 10 postoperative days did not prevent or reduce the recurrence of the primary pterygiums (Table 1, Figure 1). Meneghim RLFS, et al. 375Arq Bras Oftalmol. 2019;82(5):372-6 Table 3. Surgeon distribution according to cyclosporine A use and pterygium recurrence CsA use Recurrence grade Surgeon Total1 2 3 4 5 6 With I 2 (20.0) 2 (20.0) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 3 (30.0) 3 (30.0) 10 II 0 (0.0) 2 (33.3) 0 (0.0) 1 (16.7) 1 (16.7) 2 (33.3) 6 III 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 1 (50.0) 1 (50.0) 0 (0.0) 2 IV 1 (6.3) 2 (12.5) 3 (18.8) 3 (18.8) 2 (12.5) 5 (31.2) 16 Without I 0 (0.0) 1 (33.3) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 1 (33.3) 1 (33.3) 3 II 2 (25.0) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 2 (25.0) 3 (37.5) 1 (12.5) 8 III 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 1 (10.0) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 1 IV 4 (22.2) 4 (22.2) 4 (22.2) 2 (11.1) 1 (5.6) 3 (16.7) 18 Surgeons 1 and 3: second year residents. Surgeons 2 and 4: third year residents. Surgeons 5 and 6: hired doctors. Table 4. Surgeon distribution according to the grade of pterygium recur- rence with and without the use of cyclosporine A Use of CsA Surgeon I II III IV With R2 0.333 0.000 0.000 0.667 R3 0.182 0.273 0.091 0.455 HD 0.353 0.176 0.059 0.412 Without R2 0.000 0.182 0.091 0.727 R3 0.111 0.222 0.000 0.667 HD 0.200 0.400 0.047 0.400 P>0.05 P>0.05 P>0.05 P>0.05 R2= second year residents; R3= third year residents; HD= hired doctors. Figure 1. Patient in the cyclosporine A group with pterygium recurrence, after 2 months of follow-up. DISCUSSION We evaluated the efficacy of topical CsA at 0.05% in the pre- and postoperative periods of primary pterygium excision using the conjunctival flap rotation technique and 5-FU injection for the prevention of pterygium recurrence. The high rates of recurrence justify the use of adjuvant therapies such as antimetabolite drugs (mi- tomycin C or 5-FU), antiangiogenic agents (bevacizumab), or immunomodulatory agents (CsA) to reduce fibroblast proliferation(21,27). The majority of our patients were between 30 and 60 years of age, and most of them had high sunlight exposure while working in exterior locations and they returned to those activities after the operation, which may justify the high recurrence rate. CsA acts by binding to T lymphocytes, preventing the transcription of interleukin-2, cytokines, and associated lymphokines, causing decrease in the function of effector T cells without cytotoxic activity(28). Although T lympho- cytes are rarely identified in the conjunctiva, they are found in high levels in pterygium tissues(29), which supports the potential effects of CsA on the reduction of pterygium recurrence (as there is a strong correlation between cellular immunity and cytokine expression in the pathogenesis of pterygium(30)). Although the use of CsA in previous studies has shown promising results in preventing pterygium recurren- ce(19,21), we found that the use of CsA did not prevent or reduce the recurrence of the pterygium. This finding may be attributed to the short period of CsA use, which was applied only for 10 preoperative and 10 postope- rative days. Some studies have revealed that a 3-month CsA ap- plication after the limbal conjunctival autograft technique can achieve a recurrence rate of 3.4%(17), and similar studies have associated the use of topical CsA for 6 pos- toperative months with low recurrence rates after proce- dures using the conjunctival flap rotation technique(18-20). Topical cyclosporine A 0.05% before and after surgery to prevent pterygium recurrence 376 Arq Bras Oftalmol. 2019;82(5):372-6 Our hypothesis at the beginning of the study was that starting CsA preoperatively would allow the beginning of action for a short-term use in the postoperatively. However, CsA has been shown to inhibit the inflamma- tory processes only when used for longer periods(17-20,31). 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