title: Open clinical study of eye drops containing the fibronectin-derived peptide PHSRN for treatment of persistent corneal epithelial defects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We have previously shown that the fibronectin-derived peptide PHSRN (Pro-His-Ser-Arg-Asn) promotes corneal epithelial wound healing in vivo. We have now examined the clinical efficacy of eye drops containing the PHSRN peptide for treatment of persistent epithelial defects (PEDs) of the cornea.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven patients (5 men and 2 women; mean age±SD, 78.3±9.4 years) with PEDs were treated by administration of eye drops containing PHSRN. The duration of the PEDs before treatment was 7.4±5.5 weeks. The eye drops were administered as 1 drop per eye 4 times a day. Epithelial defects were observed with a slit-lamp microscope and photographed during the treatment course.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Epithelial defects in 5 of the 7 affected eyes (71%) responded to PHSRN treatment as manifested by complete epithelial resurfacing within the 4-week period after treatment initiation. The mean±SD time required for complete epithelial resurfacing in the 5 responding subjects was 15.8±3.4 days. No adverse effects of treatment were observed in any of the subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Eye drops containing the fibronectin-derived PHSRN peptide are clinically efficacious for the treatment of PEDs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Naoyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Morishige
authors.forename: Ryoji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yanai
authors.forename: Yukiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Tai-ichiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chikama
authors.forename: Motoyoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nomizu
authors.forename: Koh-Hei
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Sonoda
authors.forename: Teruo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishida
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D015590:Fluorophotometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D005353:Fibronectins; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C495978:prolyl-histidyl-seryl-arginyl-asparagine