Umbilical cord blood serum therapy for the management of persistent corneal epithelial defects.

AIM:

To evaluate the role of umbilical cord blood serum (CBS) therapy in cases with persistent corneal epithelial defects (PED).

METHODS:

Sixteen eyes of 14 patients with PED who were resistant to conventional treatment were treated with 20% umbilical cord serum eye drops. Patients were followed-up weekly until epithelization was complete. The collected data included the grade of corneal lesion (Grade I: epithelial defect+superficial vascularization, Grade II: epithelial defect+stromal edema, Grade III: corneal ulcer+stromal melting), the size of epithelial defect (pretreatment, 7(th), 14(th) and 21(st) days of treatment), and follow-up time was evaluated retrospectively.

RESULTS:

The mean size of epithelial defect on two perpendicular axes was 5.2×4.6-mm(2) (range: 2.5-8×2.2-9 mm(2)). Mean duration of treatment was 8.3±5wk. CBS therapy was effective in 12 eyes (75%) and ineffective in 4 eyes (25%). The epithelial defects in 4 ineffective eyes were healed with amniotic membrane transplantation and tarsorrhaphy. The rate of complete healing was 12.5% by 7d, 25% by 14d, and 75% by 21d. The healing time was prolonged in Grade III eyes in comparison to eyes in Grade I or Grade II.

CONCLUSION:

The results of the current study indicated the safety effectiveness of CBS drops in the management of PED. The grade of disease seems have a role on the healing time.