title: Comparison of autologous serum eye drops with different diluents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effect of autologous serum eye drops with different diluents in patients with dry eyes and persistent epithelial defects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients of Sjögren's syndrome (Group I), non-Sjögren's syndrome (group II) with dry eye, and persistent epithelial defects (Group III) were included. The eyes of each group were randomly treated with one of the following autologous serum eye drops: 100% serum (AS(100)), 50% serum with normal saline (AS(50NS)); 50% serum with sodium hyaluronate (AS(50HA)); or 50% serum with ceftazidime (AS(50CEF)). The differences in dry eye symptoms, Schirmer test I, tear break-up time (TBUT), corneal staining, and speed in epithelial healing were studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In Group I, AS(100) showed fewer symptoms than AS(50NS), AS(50HA) and AS(50CEF) (all p < 0.01). AS(100) showed significantly better effect than AS(50NS), AS(50HA) and AS(50CEF) in decreasing corneal staining at the time point of 12-week post-treatment (p = 0.041, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). In Group II, AS(100) was more effective than AS(50CEF) in decreasing symptoms and decreasing corneal staining (all p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in symptom and corneal staining between AS(100) and AS(50NS). In Group III, AS(100) was the most effective in achieving quick epithelial closure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the eyes with Sjögren syndrome and persistent epithelial defects, AS(100) was the most effective in decreasing symptoms, corneal epitheliopathy and promoting fast closure of wound. In the eyes with non-Sjögren syndrome, AS(100) and AS(50NS) have similar effects in decreasing symptoms and corneal epitheliopathy.
authors.affiliation: St. Vincent Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Paldal-gu, Ji-dong 93-6, Suwon, Korea South. yangkyeung@hanmail.net
authors.forename: Yang Kyung
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Geun Yeong
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Byung Su
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Lim
mesh_terms: D003315:Cornea / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D044967:Serum; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions