Intraschisis cavity fluid composition in congenital X-linked retinoschisis.

PURPOSE: To describe the intraschisis cavity protein composition in congenital X-linked retinoschisis (CXLRS) from two eyes of one child.

METHODS: The authors present a child with complex, Type 3 CXLRS who underwent bilateral surgical repair with autologous plasmin enzyme-assisted lens-sparing vitrectomy. Undiluted samples of intraschisis fluid and vitreous fluid from two eyes (one child) were obtained and used for protein analysis.

RESULTS: The patient underwent successful schisis repair with plasmin-assisted lens-sparing vitrectomy and silicone oil. Two unique protein bands were identified in the intraschisis cavity sample of each eye by gel electrophoresis. The proteins were identified as tenascin-C, an extracellular matrix protein involved in wound healing, and cystatin C, a ubiquitous cysteine protease inhibitor implicated in inflammation.

CONCLUSIONS: Tenascin-C has previously been described in its complex relationship with decorin and fibronectin in normal wound healing. Tenascin's upregulation in sites of inflammation and tenascin's role as an antiadhesive molecule may contribute to the pathogenesis of CXLRS. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first description of intraschisis cavity fluid.