title: Application of umbilical cord serum eyedrops for the treatment of neurotrophic keratitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the efficacy of umbilical cord serum eyedrops for the treatment of neurotrophic keratitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective noncomparative case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight eyes of 28 patients with neurotrophic keratitis who were refractory to conventional treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patients with neurotrophic keraitis were treated with 20% umbilical cord serum eyedrops 6 to 10 times a day. Ophthalmic examinations including best-corrected visual acuity (VA) measurement, corneal sensitivity test, corneal fluorescein staining, and anterior segment photography were performed before and after the treatment. Concentrations of substance P, insulinlike growth factor 1 (IGF-1), and nerve growth factor (NGF) in umbilical cord serum, normal peripheral blood serum, and tears were measured.
  
  
  METHODS
  Epithelial healing time; changes of VA and corneal sensitivity after treatment; and levels of substance P, IGF-1, and NGF in umbilical cord serum, normal peripheral blood serum, and tears.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The epithelial defect healed completely in all eyes, with a mean healing time of 4.4+/-4.0 weeks. The epithelial defect healed within 2 weeks in 8 eyes (28.6%), between 2 and 4 weeks in 14 eyes (50.0%), and after 4 weeks in 6 eyes (21.4%). After treatment, VA improved by >2 lines in 17 eyes (60.7%). Mean pretreatment corneal sensitivity was 21.1+/-10.5 mm, and mean posttreatment corneal sensitivity was 24.3+/-11.7 mm (P<0.01). Mean concentrations of substance P, IGF-1, and NGF were 245.3+/-53.9 pg/ml, 239.0+/-77.1 ng/ml, and 729.7+/-72.0 pg/ml in umbilical cord serum; 169.5+/-81.0 pg/ml, 375.5+/-51.3 ng/ml, and 401.7+/-98.1 pg/ml in peripheral blood serum; and 69.8+/-24.9 pg/ml, 75.7+/-50.5 ng/ml, and 107.5+/-70.9 pg/ml in tears, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Umbilical cord serum contains many neurotrophic factors, and umbilical cord serum eyedrops appeared to be effective for the treatment of neurotrophic keratitis.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hospital, Gwang-Ju, South Korea. kcyoon@chonnam.ac.kr
authors: Kyung-Chul
authors: KC
authors: Yoon
authors: In-Cheon
authors: IC
authors: You
authors: Seong-Kyu
authors: SK
authors: Im
authors: Tae-Sun
authors: TS
authors: Jeong
authors: Yeoung-Geol
authors: YG
authors: Park
authors: Jin
authors: J
authors: Choi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003315:Cornea / Q000294:innervation* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003389:Cranial Nerve Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood; D015590:Fluorophotometry; D006801:Humans; D006987:Hypesthesia / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D007634:Keratitis / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000097:blood; D009882:Ophthalmic Nerve; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D044967:Serum / Q000737:chemistry; D013373:Substance P / Q000097:blood; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D013373:Substance P; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor