To Evaluate The Effect Of Intralesional Autologous Buffy Coat Treatment For Fungal Corneal Ulcer.

To evaluate intralesional buffy coat component of autologous blood as an adjuant treatment in a patient with resistent fungal corneal ulcer. To further prove the effects, intralesional buffy coat was also tested in donor corneas inoculated with aspergillus species in lab conditions and was found effective. 

Single patient with corneal ulcer (proven Aspergillus species) located in anterior half of cornea (located in nonseing eye of the patient) not responding to conventional therapy was given intralesional (o.4 ml) buffy coat component (separated in EDTA vial) of blood with an insulin syringe after complete patient education and written informed consent. 4 Intralesional doses were given on 4 succesive days after thourough slit lamp examination and improvement noted on all occasions.     

Non seing eye of a young patient was having a resistent fungal corneal ulcer (proven aspergillus species) located in anterior half of stroma. After waiting for two weeks with all antifungal drugs, patient was tried with direct inoculation of macrophage rich component popularly known as buffy coat, was given and as adjuvant to all antifungals. On next day, a very good response was noted and a repeat injection was planned. After next day, the improvement continued but not fully recovered. Another repeat injection was planned and after 4 injections, a complete healing was seen. Pre and post operative photographs were taken. To prove this hypothesis, a rejected donor cornea was inoculated with aspergillus species in vitro and after full grown infection, simillar injections were given (with a volunteer's blood). Simillar results were seen and photographs taken.      

Buffy coat component bieng rich in macrophages, may be directly injected to aid in rapid recovery from fungal infections and can serve a good adjuvant therapy and can decrease the cost and toxicity of antifungal drugs.