USE OF AUTOLOGOUS PLATELET-RICH PLASMA (PRP) EYE DROPS FOR THE TREATMENT OF PERSISTENT CORNEAL LESIONS UNRESPONSIVE TO CONVENTIONAL THERAPIES.

Published 2022 - 26th ESCRS Winter Meeting

Reference: P203 | Type: Abstracts | DOI: 10.82333/x0ny-5819

Authors: Mario Troisi* ¹ , Salvatore Del Prete ² , Ciro Caruso ³ , Salvatore Troisi ¹

¹Ophthalmology,Salerno University Hospital,Salerno,Italy, ²Biotechnology,Service Biotech srl, Naples,Naples,Italy, ³Ophthalmology,Eye Bank Pellegrini Hospital,Naples,Italy

Purpose

Purpose of the study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of treatment with topical PRP in corneal lesions unresponsive to therapy with tear substitutes and ointments or therapeutic contact lenses, planned for amniotic membrane implantation.

Setting

Salerno Univerity Hospital - Ophthalmologic Unit

Methods

Selected patients had persistent corneal lesions (diameter 1-4 mm) unresponsive to conventional therapies over 14 days. Exclusion criteria: conjunctival swab positive for bacteria or fungi; positivity of markers for hepatitis or HIV, abnormal blood count. The PRP eye drops, obtained from the autologous blood, centrifuged at 1600 rpm, was instilled every 2 hours for up to six weeks for 10 times/day until complete re-epithelialization of the lesion. Clinical follow-up was scheduled twice a week.

Results

Twenty consecutive patients were treated (12 males, 8 females; mean age 46 years): 9 following infection, 6 post-traumatic forms, 5 with neurotrophic keratitis. Complete re-epithelialization occurred in 19 of them within 5 weeks; the mean healing time was 22 +/-7 days. One patient underwent amniotic membrane implantation and tarsorrhaphy after 6 weeks due to incomplete therapeutic efficacy. No patient experienced effects or corneal neovascularization that required therapy discontinuation.

Conclusion

The use of autologous PRP eye drops was effective and well tolerated; in our opinion it constitutes an interesting alternative to more invasive procedures in patients with persistent corneal lesions unresponsive to conventional topical therapies.