Dimethyl sulfoxide but not indomethacin is efficient for healing in hydrofluoric acid eye burns.

INTRODUCTION: In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of indomethacin and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), well-known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents, to heal eye burns induced with hydrofluoric acid in rabbits.

METHODS: After general anesthesia, the right eye of 72 male New Zealand rabbits were burned by instillation of 2% hydrofluoric acid for 60s. Following this, the eyes were irrigated with 500 cc normal saline. The rabbits were then divided into four groups of 18 rabbits each. Group D was instilled dimethyl sulfoxide 40%, Group I indomethacin 0.1%, and Group DI dimethyl sulfoxide together with indomethacin for 2, 7, and 14 treatment days, respectively. Group C received no instilled drug as control. Treatment efficacies were evaluated as clinical (corneal haziness, conjunctival status, conjunctivitis, corneal erosion area, and intraocular pressure) and histopathological (inflammatory cell infiltration, vascularization, stromal thickness, reepithelization, proliferating cell nuclear antigen [PCNA], apoptosis, and inducible nitric oxide synthases [iNOS]).

RESULTS: In terms of corneal haziness and erosion area at days 7 and 14, group D showed the best result statistically as compared to the other groups. This group also showed the best result statistically for reepithelization rate, stromal thickness, and inflammatory cell end at day 14 as compared to the other groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Dimethyl sulfoxide (40%) was efficient to induce reepithelization on mild hydrofluoric acid eye burns, whereas 0.1% indomethacin both alone and along with DMSO poorly induced reepithelization and exacerbated inflammation. Thus, 40% DMSO could be used for the treatment of corneal disorders.