Treatment of persistent corneal epithelial defect by autologous serum application.

Abstract

To evaluate the efficacy of autologous serum application for the treatment of persistent epithelial defect. Prospective, clinical, noncomparative case series. A total of 16 eyes were studied. Autologous serum was prepared from the patients and diluted to 20% by saline. The patients were instructed to use the autologous serum six to ten times a day. The concentration of vitamin A, epidermal growth factor (EGF), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) was measured at 1 week and 1 month stored in the refrigerator and 1 month and 3 months in the freezer. Time to closure of epithelial defect. Vitamin A, EGF, and TGF-beta were stable during the 1 month in the refrigerator and 3 months in the freezer. Among 16 persistent epithelial defects, 7 (43.8%) healed within 2 weeks, 3 (18.8%) healed within 1 month, and the remaining 6 (37.5%) did not respond within 1 month. No apparent side effect of autologous serum application was observed. Autologous serum application healed 43.8% of persistent defect within 2 weeks and 62.5% within 1 month.