Annual Report 2010–11

27 New Drug for Glaucoma A research team of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences has also scored a success. The team found that topical Sodium 4-Phenylbutyrate (PB) is able to prevent and treat steroid-induced glaucoma. Steroid is used in treating various eye diseases, such as uveitis and diabetic macular edema, etc., and as an anti-inflammatory drug after eye surgery. However, steroid may induce increase in deaths of the trabecular meshwork (TM), a sponge-like structure with many sieves or openings located at the anterior chamber of the eyeball, which carries the function of removing extracellular deposits and debris inside the TM, and keeping the sieves well open and patent to ensure the smooth drainage of aqueous humour produced inside the eyeball. Blockage of the drainage channels will lead to pressure rise and hence glaucoma. PB has been shown to be able to prevent cell deaths and reduce extracellular deposits and debris in the TM, and thus prevent and treat steroid-induced glaucoma. The team is applying for a US patent for the discovery of the new usage of PB as a potential glaucoma drug. It is expected that it can be put to clinical use after two to three years. New Treatment for Uterine Fibroids The Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology improved non-surgical treatment for uterine fibroids. Uterine fibroids are common tumours in women. Usual treatment options include hormonal therapy and surgery. Hormonal therapy usually does not have a sustainable effect and surgery carries a risk of significant complications and recurrence. The new uterine fibroid embolization involves using Trisacryl (TA) microspheres to block the vessels of uterine fibroids, thereby cutting their blood supply, causing them to shrink and ultimately die. By using TA microspheres in place of the conventional Polyvinyl Alcohol microspheres for the treatment, the success rate can be increased from 69% to 96%. 新眼藥水治療青光眼 眼科及視覺科學學系也有創新的研究 成果。該系的研究團隊發現，含化學 物質「鈉苯基丁」（簡稱 PB ）的眼藥水 能預防及治療類固醇引發的青光眼。 現時類固醇常用於治療糖尿病黃斑病 變、虹膜發炎等，以及眼部手術後消 炎。但是，服用類固醇藥物的人士如 果對類固醇過敏，便會導致清理眼內 分泌房水積聚物的小樑網細胞大量死 亡，失去功能，導致排水口阻塞，眼壓 上升，最終演化成青光眼。實驗證實， PB 眼藥水能減少小樑網細胞死亡，因 此能預防及治療因類固醇過敏引起的 青光眼。 研究隊伍正就此項新發現申請美國專 利，預計 PB 眼藥水兩三年後便可正式 使用。 新法治子宮肌瘤 影像及介入放射學系則研究出治療子 宮肌瘤的方法，免除病人開刀之苦。 子宮肌瘤是最常見的婦女腫瘤，以往 多以藥物和外科手術治療。但前者只 能短暫把肌瘤縮小，後者則有機會出 現併發症和復發。 影像及介入放射學系的療法是以 Trisacryl 明膠微球堵塞肌瘤血管，令 其壞死縮小。相較於傳統的聚乙烯醇 微球，利用 Trisacryl 明膠微球的新方 法能把治療成功率由百分之六十九提 升至百分之九十六。 青光眼 Glaucoma 醫學院透視微創治療基金臨床科學中心總監 余俊豪教授（左）及婦產科學系名譽臨床副教 授張德康醫生 Prof. Yu Chun-ho Simon (left), director of the Vascular and Interventional Radiology Foundation Clinical Science Centre and Dr. Cheung Tak-hong, clinical associate professor (honorary), Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology