Platelet Rich Plasma in Corneal Surface Diseases

The Aim of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of platelet rich plasma eye drops in the management of different corneal surface disorders. PRP is a blood sample with a concentrated platelet count, and numerous growth factors that are associated with conjunctival and corneal wound healing process. which is an important advantage over other products. PRP eye drops recently are proving to be an effective and potent therapeutic approach to promote corneal wound re-epithelization and promote ocular surface regeneration in different pathological conditions.

There are many conditions in which the ocular surface is severely affected as keratoconjunctivitis sicca, persistent epithelial corneal defect, recurrent corneal erosion, neurotrophic keratopathy, post laser in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK) ocular surface syndrome (OSS), dormant corneal ulcer, graft-versus-host disease, ocular cicatricial pemphigoid, and neurotrophic changes. If corneal wound healing does not occur promptly, it can lead to visual loss, severe scarring, infection and even corneal perforation, the treatment of ocular surface disorders has a multifactorial approach and conventional therapy is often not enough to solve the problem. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is defined as a portion of the plasma fraction of autologous blood having a platelet concentration above baseline. They use a PRP device, concentrate platelets using a double centrifugation technique and activate PRP just when they are ready to use it. The final concentration is at least 1.000.000 platelets/ microliter. Therefore, it is an autologous concentration of platelets and growth factors. An important reservoir of proteins and growth factors precipitating in haemostasis, tissue regeneration, immune response, and wound healing. Alpha granules of the platelets include over 30 biologically active substances such as platelet-derived growth factor, transforming growth factor b1 and b2 and insulin-like growth factor 1, vascular endothelial growth factor, epidermal cell growth factor, fibroblast growth factor 2, and insulin-like growth factor. Eye platelet-rich plasma has a lubricating effect and has been effective in regenerating the ocular surface in cases of micropunctate keratitis, decreasing inflammation in patients suffering from dry eye and stimulating wound-healing processes in dormant corneal ulcers.

Fifty milliliters of whole blood will be placed in five 10-ml vacutainer tubes containing anticoagulant-citrate-dextrose solution (1.4 ml) and centrifuged at 200g for 11 min. The upper two layers of the centrifuged blood, the plasma and buffy coat layer will be separated in a sterile manner and diluted to 20 % (v/v) with a sterile saline solution. The final preparation is divided into 5-ml bottles wrapped in aluminum foil for protection from ultraviolet light. The patients are instructed to store these bottles at -20 °C until required. The bottles being used will be maintained under refrigerated conditions at 4 °C.

Participants with persistent epithelial defects will be treated with autologous platelet rich plasma eye drops.

Fifty milliliters of patient's own whole blood will be placed in five 10-ml vacutainer tubes containing anticoagulant-citrate-dextrose solution (1.4 ml) and centrifuged at 200g for 11 min. The upper two layers of the centrifuged blood, the plasma and buffy coat layer will be separated in a sterile manner and diluted to 20 % (v/v) with a sterile saline solution. The final preparation is divided into 5-ml bottles wrapped in aluminum foil for protection from ultraviolet light. The patients are instructed to store these bottles at -20 °C until required. The bottles being used will be maintained under refrigerated conditions at 4 °C.

Evaluation of the efficacy of platelet rich plasma eye drops in the management of persistent corneal epithelial defects, and dry eye disease by observation of change in size of defect over different periods of time.

To evaluate the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) eye drops in management of different ocular surface pathologies, the therapeutic response will be evaluated with clinical examination and follow up. Main outcome measurements include the change in size of defect by fluorescein staining on slit lamp biomicroscopy. The largest linear dimension of the epithelial defect and its largest possible perpendicular within the confines of the epithelial defect are measured in millimeters using a slit lamp.

Evaluation of the efficacy of platelet rich plasma eye drops in the management of persistent corneal epithelial defects, and dry eye disease by observation of change in visual acuity.

To evaluate the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) eye drops in management of different ocular surface pathologies, the therapeutic response will be evaluated with clinical examination and follow up. Main outcome measurements include the change in visual acuity measured by Snellen visual acuity (VA) testing.

Evaluation of the efficacy of platelet rich plasma eye drops in the management of persistent corneal epithelial defects, and dry eye disease by observation of change in height of tear meniscus,

To evaluate the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) eye drops in management of different ocular surface pathologies, the therapeutic response will be evaluated with clinical examination and follow up. Main outcome measurements include the change in height of tear meniscus measured by slit lamp biomicroscopy.

Evaluation of the efficacy of platelet rich plasma eye drops in the relief symptoms caused by persistent corneal epithelial defects, and dry eye disease by observation of change in ocular symptoms.

Secondary outcome measurements include the change and improvement of subjective symptoms during treatment; particularly pain. assessed by visual analog score for pain.

Inclusion Criteria: Persistent epithelial defects (Exposure keratopathy, Post infectious keratitis). Dry eye disease. Exclusion Criteria: Active ocular infection or inflammation. Patients will be withdrawn if allergic or adverse side effects develop. Pregnancy or breast feeding. The use of systemic antiplatelet or anticoagulant. Uncontrolled systemic diseases Non-compliance with the study protocol. Positive HIV, HBV, HCB or Syphilis. Anemia (less than 10 g/dl of HGB, platelet count less than 105/ul).

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