Forty eyes of 38 patients with dormant corneal ulcers.
Methods
Autologous platelet-rich plasma was used in a total of 40 eyes with dormant corneal ulcers divided into 2 groups: group I, 26 eyes treated with topical eyedrops of autologous platelet-rich plasma (12 neurotrophic, 9 herpetic, and 5 immunological ulcers), and group II, 14 eyes treated surgically with a solid clot of autologous platelet-rich plasma combined with amniotic membrane transplantation in perforated corneas or with impending perforation. The treatment was used in patients with chronic nonhealing ulcers (mean, 2 years of evolution) that had been unresponsive to conventional topical therapy. Autologous blood from each patient was obtained by venipuncture, and platelet-rich plasma was prepared from each blood sample without additives.
Main Outcome Measures
Ulcer size, inflammation, healing, visual acuity, and patient’s subjective symptoms.
Results
Autologous platelet-rich plasma promoted healing of ulcers. In group I, 13 eyes healed, 11 eyes improved significantly, and 2 eyes showed no change. In group II, 10 eyes healed and 4 eyes improved significantly. Inflammation and subjective symptoms, particularly pain, improved in all patients. Vision remained stable or improved in all cases.
Conclusion
Autologous platelet-rich plasma promoted healing of dormant corneal ulcers even in eyes threatened by corneal perforation and was accompanied by a reduction in pain and inflammation.
1Department of Cornea and Refractive Surgery, VISSUM, Instituto Oftalmológico de Alicante, Alicante, Spain.
2School of Medicine, Miguel Hernandez University, Alicante, Spain.
3Cellular Therapy and Tissue Engineering Laboratory, Research and Development Department, VISSUM, Instituto Oftalmologico de Alicante, Alicante, Spain.
Correspondence to Jorge L. Alió, MD, PhD, VISSUM, Instituto Oftalmológico de Alicante, Avda. de Denia s/n, Edificio Vissum, 03016 Alicante, Spain.
ABSTRACT