Title:The Effectiveness of Different Treatment Modalities for the Management of Ocular Injuries Following Sulfur Mustard Exposure
VOLUME: 15 ISSUE: 2
Author(s):Yunes Panahi, Mostafa Naderi, Shahbaz Nekoozadeh, Seyyed Mahdi Rajaee and Amirhossein Sahebkar*
Affiliation:Pharmacotherapy Department, School of Pharmacy, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Department of Ophthalmology, Bina Eye Hospital Research Center, Tehran, Eye Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Gastrointestinal Pharmacology Interest Group (GPIG), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Neurogenic Inflammation Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad
Keywords:Mustard gas, anti-inflammatory drugs, stem cells, keratoplasty, ocular injuries.
Abstract:Background: Mustard gas or sulfur mustard (dichloro-3-thiapentane-1,5) is a chemical
compound consisting of chlorine and sulfur which was used as a chemical weapon in the First
World War and during the war between Iran and Iraq. Mustard gas is a lipophilic compound that is
highly poisonous and can quickly penetrate into body tissues. Eye is one of the body organs that is
quite vulnerable to this compound. The present study was conducted to review the effectiveness of
various treatments for ocular injuries caused by sulfur mustard.
Methods: In this review, therapeutic effects of anti-inflammatory drugs such as dexamethasone,
diclofenac, betamethasone and their combination, as well as surgical interventions based on stem
cells and different methods of keratoplasty [e.g. penetrating keratoplasty (PKP), lamellar keratoplasty
(LKP), and deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK)] were assessed.
Results: As the results indicated, combinatorial therapeutic approaches are more successful compared
with single therapeutic measures. It has been reported that utilization of anti-inflammatory
drugs such as diclofenac, dexamethasone and betamethasone can control the initial symptoms. In
addition, keratolimbal allograft stem cell transplantation methods along with LKP and PKP keratoplasty
methods can lead to considerable therapeutic success.
Conclusion: Considering the involvement of multiple abnormalities in the pathogenesis of sulfur
mustard-induced chronic ocular complications, combinatorial therapeutic approaches appear to be
more efficacious.
