Ozone treatment for high-dose systemic Steroid-Induced retinal injury

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the effect of high-dose systemic steroids on retinal tissues and the effectiveness of ozone (O₃) therapy.

Methods

Twenty-four New Zealand white rabbits were divided into three groups of eight. Group 1 was accepted as the control group, Group 2 received intramuscular 20 mg/kg methylprednisolone acetate and Group 3 received 14 sessions of ozone treatment in addition to methylprednisolone acetate. The subjects were sacrificed on the 30^th day. Retinal tissues were removed. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidant status (TOS) levels were evaluated for tissue biochemistry and serum ischaemic modified albumin (IMA), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels were evaluated with the ELISA method. Haematoxylin-eosin staining and TUNEL evaluation for apoptosis were evaluated as histopathological methods.

Results

In the treatment group, antioxidant parameters of TAS, SOD and CAT were higher, oxidative and ischaemic parameters of MDA, TOS and IMA were lower, inflammatory parameters of IL-6 and TNF-α were lower, retinal thickness was better and apoptosis amount was lower.

Conclusion

Apoptosis increases in retinal tissues due to high dose systemic steroid administration and the retina becomes thinner. With biochemical examination, oxidation parameters increased while antioxidant parameters decreased. Both histopathological and biochemical parameters improved significantly with ozone treatment.

Keywords:

• Retina
• oxidative stress
• apoptosis
• antioxidants
• ozone

View correction statement:

Correction

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article was originally published with errors, which have now been corrected in the online version. Please see Correction (http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15569527.2024.2343978)