The Beneficial Effects of Doxycycline, An Inhibitor of Matrix Metalloproteinases, on Sulfur Mustard-Induced Ocular Pathologies Depend on the Injury Stage

Sulfur mustard (SM) induces acute ocular lesions, including erosions and inflammation that may be followed by delayed injuries expressed by epithelial defects and neovascularization (NV). Based on the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) activity, we evaluated the clinical and biochemical effects of topical treatment with doxycycline, an MMP inhibitor, targeted to the various injury stages.Rabbit eyes were exposed to SM vapor. A clinical follow-up...