title: Efficacy of a crosslinked hyaluronic acid-based hydrogel as a tear film supplement: a masked controlled study.
abstract: Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), or dry eye, is a significant medical problem in both humans and dogs. Treating KCS often requires the daily application of more than one type of eye drop in order to both stimulate tear prodcution and provide a tear supplement to increase hydration and lubrication. A previous study demonstrated the potential for a crosslinked hyaluronic acid-based hydrogel (xCMHA-S) to reduce the clinical signs associated with KCS in dogs while using a reduced dosing regimen of only twice-daily administration. The present study extended those results by comparing the use of the xCMHA-S to a standard HA-containing tear supplement in a masked, randomized clinical study in dogs with a clinical diagnosis of KCS. The xCMHA-S was found to significantly improve ocular surface health (conjunctival hyperaemia, ocular irritation, and ocular discharge) to a greater degree than the alternative tear supplement (P = 0.0003). Further, owners reported the xCMHA-S treatment as being more highly effective than the alternative tear supplement (P = 0.0024). These results further demonstrate the efficacy of the xCMHA-S in reducing the clinical signs associated with KCS, thereby improving patient health and owner happiness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Cambridge University, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: SentrX Animal Care, Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America; Department of Bioengineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America.
authors.forename: Brenda K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Mann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007638:Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D013666:Tears / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid