Effect of Mitomycin-C Augmented Trabeculectomy on Corneal Endothelial Cells

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of mitomycin-C (MMC) on corneal endothelial cell density (ECD) and morphology after trabeculectomy. METHODS: In this prospective comparative case series, 31 eyes with glaucoma underwent trabeculectomy with (group I), or without (group II) MMC. Specular microscopy was performed pre-, and postoperatively at months 1 and 3. Outcome measures included central corneal endothelial cell count and coefficient of variation (CV) of cell size. RESULTS: Overall, mean preoperative ECD was 2,135.8 ± 397.6 cells/mm(2); corresponding values at postoperative months 1 and 3 were 2,019.6 ± 447.2 cells/mm(2), and 1,991.4 ± 425.5 cells/mm(2), respectively (P > 0.05). Cell loss from month 1 to 3 was 1.3 % (P > 0.05). Subgroup analysis showed significant differences in endothelial cell loss at month 1 (P = 0.048) and month 3 (P = 0.014) between the MMC and control groups with no significant difference between the two groups in terms of cell loss from months 1 to 3, postoperatively (P = 0.968). Overall, mean pre-and postoperative CVs at months 1 and 3 were 27.38 ± 4.55, 27.96 ± 4.26, and 28.35 ± 4.47, respectively, with no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). There was no correlation between preoperative central endothelial cell density (CECD) and MMC related cell loss. CONCLUSION: MMC application in trabeculectomy seems to cause a small but significant corneal endothelial loss. Most of the damage occurs intraoperatively, or in the early postoperative period, however progressive endothelial cell loss is not a major concern.