[Corneal wound healing after penetrating keratoplasty with EGF application. Experimental studies].
OBJECTIVE
To check post penetrating keratoplasty (PK) corneal wound healing characteristics after epidermal growth factor (EGF) application and to compare it with controls.


METHODS
The PK was performed in the group of 72 young, healthy New Zealand rabbits (36 females and 36 males). Slit-lamp examination, tonometry and corneal topography by Tomey's corneal modeling system (TMS-1) were carried out before and after surgery. The PK was performed in both eyes. Half of animals were used as a bilateral donor for the other half, with a rule: right eye cornea to the right eye and left eye cornea to the left eye. As a result, after completed surgery 36 rabbits had bilateral grafts. The animals were divided into 3 equal groups (12 in each). Two drops of the human recombined EGF dissolved in the saline solution with concentration varied from 500 to 1500 ng in each drop were applied to the right eye according to schedule. The left eye was used as a control and did not receive EGF. Time of observation varied from 24 hours to 6 months. The tensinometry and the histopathologic study--light and electron microscopy were performed to determine corneal scarring.


RESULTS
The wound healing pattern after PK was characteristic and constant in each group. The corneal wound healing significantly accelerated in the EGF treated group of rabbits compared with the controls (p < 0.05). In the group of rabbits receiving 1000 ng of hrEGF 3 times/day, after two weeks of application we noted increase of the wound strength up to 600 folds, comparing with controls. Well-organized scar was histologically seen on the 21st post-surgery day. The post-operative corneal astigmatism was less expressed in the eyes treated with EGF comparing to controls.


CONCLUSIONS
These preliminary results of our experimental study indicated accelerated effect on the corneal wound healing after PK with topical, low dose hrEGF application. Clinical observation of utilization of similar low doses of the hrEGF after PK--is in progress.
Szaflik
J
J
Kliniki Okulistycznej II Wydziału Lekarskiego AM w Warszawie.
Fryczkowski
A W
AW
Liberek
I
I
Czubak
M
M
Brix
M
M
Broniek
G
G
Fryczkowski
P
P
D000818:Animals; D003315:Cornea / Q000166:cytology / Q000601:surgery*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011817:Rabbits; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor