title: Application of umbilical cord serum eyedrops for the treatment of dry eye syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the efficacy of umbilical cord serum eyedrops for the treatment of severe dry eye syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-five eyes of 31 patients with severe dry eye syndrome were treated with umbilical cord serum eyedrops. Symptom scoring, tear film break-up time (BUT), Schirmer test, corneal sensitivity test, and corneal fluorescein staining were performed before and 1 and 2 months after treatment, and conjunctival impression cytology was performed before and 2 months after treatment. The concentrations of epidermal growth factor (EGF), vitamin A, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) in umbilical cord serum and normal peripheral blood serum were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two months after treatment, significant improvement was observed in symptom score (from 3.07 +/- 0.54 to 0.96 +/- 0. 58), BUT (from 3.96 +/- 1.56 to 5.45 +/- 2.54 seconds), and keratoepitheliopathy score (from 4.87 +/- 3.22 to 1.71 +/- 1.84) (P < 0.01). There was no statistically significant change in Schirmer and corneal sensitivity tests. In impression cytology, the grade of squamous metaplasia (from 2.35 +/- 0.72 to 1.44 +/- 0.69) and goblet cell density (from 80.91 +/- 31.53 to 154.68 +/- 43.06 cell/mm) improved significantly (P < 0.01). The mean concentrations of EGF, TGF-beta, and vitamin A were 0.48 +/- 0.09, 57.14 +/- 18.98, and 230.85 +/- 13.39 ng/mL in umbilical cord serum and 0.14 +/- 0.03, 31.30 +/- 12.86, and 372.34 +/- 22.32 ng/mL in peripheral blood serum, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Umbilical cord serum contains essential tear components, and umbilical cord serum eyedrops are effective and safe for the treatment of severe dry eye syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Dong Gu, Gwangju, South Korea. kcyoon@chonnam.ac.kr
authors.forename: Kyung-Chul
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Seong-Kyu
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Im
authors.forename: Yeoung-Geol
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Young-Do
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Seong-Yeul
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003315:Cornea / Q000503:physiopathology; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D014801:Vitamin A; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor