[Effect of sodium hyaluronate administered at the end of penetrating keratoplasty on reepithelialization of the graft].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of sodium hyaluronate on reepithelialization time after penetrating keratoplaty.


METHODS
We prospectly studied 56 consecutive penetrating keratoplasties. One group of patients (n = 22) received dexamethasone ointment at the end of surgery. The second group (n = 34) received sodium hyaluronate and topical dexamethasone. Postoperative reepithelialization time and graft central thickness were recorded.


RESULTS
There was no statistical difference between both groups for epithelialization (4.6 + 3.2 days in the hyaluronate group and 4.4 + 2.3 days in the dexamathasone group) and for graft thickness at day one (710 + 85 microns for the former group and 713 + 84 microns for the latter group) and at day of reepithelialization (663 + 80 microns for the former group and 703 + 99 microns for the latter group). The epithelium aspect was different at the first postoperative day between both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of sodium hyaluronate at the end of penetrating keratoplasty improves the graft epithelium aspect at the first postoperative day, but it does not influence reepithelialization time. Further studies are needed to investigate the mechanism of sodium hyaluronate effect on corneal epithelium.
Scheer
S
S
Service d'Ophtalmologie, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Paris.
Borderie
V
V
Touzeau
O
O
Allouch
C
C
Laroche
L
L
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016039:Corneal Transplantation / Q000473:pathology*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010118:Oxytetracycline / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012038:Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects
D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D003907:Dexamethasone; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D010118:Oxytetracycline