Hyeong Ju Kim1, Hyun Chul Youn1, Jeong Jae Hyun2, Sang Woo Kim3. 1. Department of Ophthalmology, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 877 Bangeojinsunhwando-ro, Dong-gu, Ulsan, 44033, South Korea. 2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Soongsil University, Seoul, South Korea. 3. Department of Ophthalmology, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 877 Bangeojinsunhwando-ro, Dong-gu, Ulsan, 44033, South Korea. ophdrkim@uuh.ulsan.kr.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: To investigate the efficacy of autologous serum gel in patients with lagophthalmos combined with neurotrophic persistent corneal epithelial defects (PEDs). METHODS: This is retrospective, case-series study enrolled 15 patients with lagophthalmos complicated by neurotrophic PEDs refractory to medical treatment including autologous serum eye drops. They were treated with autologous serum gel in conjunction with conservative treatment. The following information was collected from medical records: demographics, underlying diseases, and past ocular history. PEDs healing time was evaluated with visual acuity, visual analog scale (VAS) scores, esthesiometer scores, and the areas of the epithelial defects. RESULTS: Six men and nine women with a mean age of 63.3 ± 9.9 years were included. The most common cause of the neurotrophic PEDs and lagophthalmos in this group was postherpetic infection (46.7%) and cerebral hemorrhage (26.7%) each. Two months following treatment with autologous serum gel, there was a reduction in the area of the epithelial defects (from 19.2 ± 9.9 to 0.6 ± 1.5 mm2) and a significant improvement in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) (from 0.8 ± 0.5 to 0.5 ± 0.4 logMAR) and VAS scores (from 5.1 ± 1.1 to 2.1 ± 0.6) in 13 eyes (87%). Among the 11 completely healed eyes, the mean epithelial healing time was 3.2 ± 1.8 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Autologous serum gel reduces symptoms and promotes corneal epithelialization of refractory neurotrophic PEDs in patients with lagophthalmos. Therefore, it may be well tolerated and a beneficial addition in the management of neurotrophic PEDs in patients with lagophthalmos.
INTRODUCTION: To investigate the efficacy of autologous serum gel in patients with lagophthalmos combined with neurotrophic persistent corneal epithelial defects (PEDs). METHODS: This is retrospective, case-series study enrolled 15 patients with lagophthalmos complicated by neurotrophic PEDs refractory to medical treatment including autologous serum eye drops. They were treated with autologous serum gel in conjunction with conservative treatment. The following information was collected from medical records: demographics, underlying diseases, and past ocular history. PEDs healing time was evaluated with visual acuity, visual analog scale (VAS) scores, esthesiometer scores, and the areas of the epithelial defects. RESULTS: Six men and nine women with a mean age of 63.3 ± 9.9 years were included. The most common cause of the neurotrophic PEDs and lagophthalmos in this group was postherpetic infection (46.7%) and cerebral hemorrhage (26.7%) each. Two months following treatment with autologous serum gel, there was a reduction in the area of the epithelial defects (from 19.2 ± 9.9 to 0.6 ± 1.5 mm2) and a significant improvement in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) (from 0.8 ± 0.5 to 0.5 ± 0.4 logMAR) and VAS scores (from 5.1 ± 1.1 to 2.1 ± 0.6) in 13 eyes (87%). Among the 11 completely healed eyes, the mean epithelial healing time was 3.2 ± 1.8 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Autologous serum gel reduces symptoms and promotes corneal epithelialization of refractory neurotrophic PEDs in patients with lagophthalmos. Therefore, it may be well tolerated and a beneficial addition in the management of neurotrophic PEDs in patients with lagophthalmos.
Authors: Maria Luisa Pérez; Saúl Barreales; Noelia Sabater-Cruz; Eva Maria Martinez-Conesa; Anna Vilarrodona; Ricardo P Casaroli-Marano Journal: Cell Tissue Bank Date: 2021-09-21 Impact factor: 1.752