Umbilical cord serum eye drops for the treatment of severe dry eye syndrome
Session Details
Session Title: Presented Poster Session: Cornea IV
Venue: Poster Village: Pod 3
First Author: : M.Rodriguez Calvo de Mora SPAIN
Co Author(s): : S. Lozano Ruiz C. Alba Linero
Abstract Details
Purpose:
To assess the clinical effects of the umibilical cord serum (UCS) eye drops and quantify the growing factors, vitamins and other essential molecules for the ocular surface homeostasis, in order to explore new therapies for the dry eye syndrome (DES).
Setting:
Referral Public Hospital. Ocular Surface and Cornea Department.
Methods:
Patients with severe DES were recruited. If eligible, the informed consent was taken and visual acuity, intraocular pressure, slit-lamp examination, Schirmer test, break-up time (BUT), fluorescein and lissamine green staining and a questionnaire were performed. Patients were instructed to use UCS eye drops five times a day. At one and three months all tests were repeated. ELISA analysis was performed in the UCS serum to quantify the following: Albumin, fibronectine, IgA, IgG, IgM, vitamine A, vitamine E, endotelial-growth factor (EGF) and transforming-growth factor (TGF). Values were collected in a spread sheet and analyzed (restrospective analysis of prospectively collected data).
Results:
A total of 32 eyes with severe DES were recruited. Mean age was 62 years (range 57.75 – 69.25), 86% were females and 67% showed previous autoimmune disease. Clinical response UCS eye drops, measured by changes in Schirmer test (mm), BUT (seconds), fluorescein staining of the ocular surface (Oxford scale), lissamine green staining of the corneo-conjunctival epithelium (van Bijsterveld scale) and the OSDI questionnaire showed statistically significant changes (improvement) in all tests. We found the following concentrations of molecules: fibronectine 255 (±185.30) μg/ml; IgA 344.46 (±232.92) mg/ml; vitamine A 42.60 (±15,37) mg/ml; EGF 0.81 ng/ml and TGF 21.10 (±5.66) ng/ml.
Conclusions:
UCS eye drops are effective for the treatment of severe DES and may show some advantages compared to traditional eye drops made from autologous hemoderivatives: various vials can be obtained from a single donor; UCS eye drops can be prepared and stored safely in advance and it is not necessary to perform a blood extraction to the patient. Thus, UCS eye drops are an excellent option for patients with severe DES that are not suitable for periodic blood extraction and/or those patients with urgent complications of the cornea and ocular surface related to DES.
Financial Disclosure:
NONE
