Purpose : To review the levels of conjunctival transforming growth factor beta (TGF-) between glaucoma and control patients and to determine conjunctival TGF- levels before and 3 months after augmented primary trabeculectomy. (p 0.001). A significantly greater reduction in conjunctival TGF- levels (61.6% 17.9%) was associated with complete success of trabeculectomy at 3 months (83.3%) after surgical intervention (p = 0.029). Conclusion : The reduction of TGF- around the conjunctival post primary augmented trabeculectomy may suggest TGF- as potential predicting marker of short term trabeculectomy success. However, the result may be affected by site of impression, topical pressure lowering drugs and small sample size. strong class=”kwd-title” Keywords: Conjunctival TGFbeta, impression cytology, trabeculectomy INTRODUCTION Trabeculectomy is usually a surgical procedure that provides an alternative pathway for aqueous drainage from the anterior chamber to the subconjunctival space by removing part of the trabecular meshwork and adjacent structures to reduce intraocular pressure in glaucoma [1]. Long-term outcome of trabeculectomy is determined by the wound healing response of the conjunctiva and the sclerostomy site. Unfortunately, the postoperative excessive wound healing process occur in many cases [2]. Nowadays, there is increasing interest in cytokines or growth factors that are involved in the wound healing cascade in the eye in order to promote the success rate of glaucoma filtering surgery [3, 4]. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-) is usually identified as one of the important growth factors in wound healing after trabeculectomy. TGF- is usually a multifunctional growth factor and belongs to a large superfamily of polypeptide molecules [5, 6]. There are 3 isoforms of TGF-: TGF-1, TGF-2, and TGF-3. All 3 isoforms are found in the cornea, but TGF-2 is usually believed to be the predominant isotype [5, 6]. TGF-2 is also the most potent growth factor that stimulates conjunctival fibroblast function [7] and is found predominantly in the vitreous, aqueous humor, and tears [8-10]. A significantly higher level of TGF-2 was found in the aqueous humor of glaucoma patients than that of non-glaucoma patients [11]. During augmented trabeculectomy, TGF- is usually released from platelets, neutrophils, macrophages, and fibroblasts at the site of injury. TGF- then stimulates formation of granulation tissue [12]. TGF- is also responsible for stimulating angiogenesis, fibroblast proliferation, buy AZD0530 myofibroblast differentiation, and matrix deposition [12]. To the best of our knowledge, no scholarly study provides investigated the conjunctival degrees of TGF- between glaucoma and non-glaucoma sufferers. The primary objective of the research was to evaluate conjunctival TGF- amounts between glaucoma sufferers and control sufferers also to determine the degrees of conjunctival TGF- before and three months after augmented major trabeculectomy. Finally, we directed to associate conjunctival TGF- amounts using the achievement of major augmented trabeculectomy in Asian sufferers. MATERIAL AND Strategies This potential cohort research was executed between January 2010 and November 2011 and included glaucoma sufferers accepted for augmented major trabeculectomy and age-matched non-glaucoma sufferers attending the attention clinic at a healthcare facility buy AZD0530 Universiti Sains Malaysia. This research received ethical acceptance from the study and ethical panel of Universiti Sains Malaysia and was executed relative to the Helsinki Declaration for Individual Research. Individual Selection Primary open buy AZD0530 up position glaucoma (POAG) and major position closure glaucoma (PACG) sufferers scheduled to endure augmented Rabbit Polyclonal to SPINK6 major trabeculectomy between January and July 2011 had been assigned to the analysis group. Glaucoma sufferers who had prior ocular surgery and the ones with systemic comorbidities that changed their immune position, such as for example autoimmune illnesses, tuberculosis, or carcinomas, had been excluded. Among the chosen sufferers, those who created complications, such as for example vitreous reduction or suprachoroidal hemorrhage, during trabeculectomy medical procedures; experienced.