Effect of Autologous Serum Eye Drops in Patients with Sjögren Syndrome-related Dry Eye: Clinical and In Vivo Confocal Microscopy Evaluation of the Ocular Surface.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate in vivo changes after therapy using autologous serum (AS) eye drops in Sjögren's syndrome (SS)-related dry eyes by confocal microscopy.


METHODS
In this study, 24 patients with SS-related dry eyes [12 in AS eye drop therapy and 12 in artificial tear (AT) therapy] and 24 healthy volunteers were recruited. Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), central corneal thickness, tear film, break-up time, corneal and conjunctival staining, Schirmer's test and corneal confocal microscopy were investigated.


RESULTS
Tear production, tear stability, corneal staining, inflammation, and central corneal thickness, Langherans cells, activated keratocytes, intermediate epithelial cell density, nerve tortuosity, number of sub-basal nerve branches, and number of bead-like formations differed between patients and controls (p<0.0001). The AT and AS groups differed in the OSDI, number of branches, and number of beadings (p<0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
AS eye drops improve symptoms and confocal microscopy findings in SS-related dry eyes.
Opthamology Clinic, Depatment of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Specialties and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Francesco
F
Semeraro
Opthamology Clinic, Depatment of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Specialties and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Eliana
E
Forbice
Opthamology Clinic, Depatment of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Specialties and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Giuseppe
G
Nascimbeni
Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Marco
M
Taglietti
Department of Corneal and External Eye Diseases, St. Paul's Eye Unit, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, U.K. vito.romano@gmail.com.
Vito
V
Romano
Anatomy Institute, Department of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy.
Germano
G
Guerra
Eye Clinic, Department of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy.|IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Isernia, Italy.
Ciro
C
Costagliola
D000328:Adult; D003315:Cornea / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology; D060527:Corneal Keratocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D016014:Linear Models; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008875:Middle Aged; D009882:Ophthalmic Nerve / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D044967:Serum; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000150:complications*
D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions
Autologous serum eye drops; Sjögren syndrome; confocal microscopy; dry eye