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Topical Autologous Serum Application for the Treatment of Corneal Epithelium Defect After Ocular Surgeries

Clinical Study: Topical Autologous Serum Application for the Treatment of Corneal Epithelium Defect After Ocular Surgeries

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01075347
Enrollment
165
Registered
2010-02-25
Start date
2007-03-31
Completion date
2008-03-31
Last updated
2010-09-14

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Corneal Epithelial Defect, Diabetic Retinopathy, Penetrating Keratoplasty

Keywords

autoserum, ocular surgery, corneal epithelium healing

Brief summary

Ophthalmology ,cornea Autologous serum has long been known to be effective to promote corneal epithelial wound healing in a variety of ocular surface disorders. However, its effectiveness for corneal epithelial defects due to pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for diabetic retinopathy and penetrating keratoplasty has seldom been reported. In this study, we plan to perform a prospective study to determine the effectiveness of topical autologous serum as a primary treatment for corneal epithelial defect in patients undergoing vitrectomy for diabetic retinopathy and penetrating keratoplasty. All patients enrolled in this study have received corneal epithelial debridement at the end of the ocular surgeries, namely PPV for diabetic retinopathy and penetrating keratoplasty. The patients were grouped into two treatment groups. In the control group, the patients receive conventional postoperative eye drops including topical steroid, antibiotic and mydriatics. In the experimental group, the patients receive topical autologous serum eye drops in addition to conventional postoperative eye drops. The duration for cornea surface to completely re-epithelize, the incidence of corneal complications due to delayed surface re-epithelization (e.g. infectious corneal ulcer, corneal melting, sterile corneal ulcer, corneal neovascularization), and the incidence of recurrent epithelial break down after initial epithelization will be compared between these two groups. Patients undergoing PPV for diabetic retinopathy and penetrating keratoplasty will be compared separately

Detailed description

Purpose: To evaluate the treatment effect of autologous serum eye drops for promoting corneal epithelium wound healing in patients receiving pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for diabetic retinopathy and penetrating keratoplasty. Background: During PPV for diabetic retinopathy retinopathy and penetrating keratoplasty, removal of the edematous corneal epithelial layer was usually required in order to obtain a better surgical view or enhance the postoperative epithelial wound healing process. However, delayed epithelial healing was frequently found in these patients after surgeries. In addition, corneal epithelial defect is also frequent found in diabetic patients after PPV even corneal epithelial debridement is not performed during the operation. Autologous serum, the fluid component of full blood after blood clotting, contains a large variety of growth factors, vitamins, and immunoglobulins. These epitheliotropic factors are thought to be responsible for the therapeutic effect of serum observed on ocular surface disorders. The effects of serum to promote epithelial wound healing have been well documented in cell culture system in a variety of epithelial cell types including corneal epithelial cells. Autologous serum eye drops have also been demonstrated to be beneficial in the treatment of persistent corneal epithelial defects. In this study, we planned a prospective study to determine the effectiveness of autologous serum tears as a primary treatment in corneal epithelial defect following vitrectomy in diabetic patients and penetrating keratoplasty.

Interventions

with postoperative 20% autologous serum diluted with preservative-free artificial tear application bi-hourly during waking hours

OTHERNon-autologous serum

without postoperative 20% autologous serum diluted with preservative-free artificial tear application bi-hourly during waking hours

Sponsors

National Taiwan University Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
20 Years to 70 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy who's condition need to receive pars plana vitrectomy or patients who need to receive penetrating keratoplasty

Exclusion criteria

* For PPV: ocular disease such as limbal stem cell Insufficiency , glaucoma, lagophthalmos * For penetrating keratoplasty:ocular or systemic disease that would affect epithelial healing, such as severe dry eye, severe lid abnormalities, limbal stem cell deficiency, or corneal anesthesia

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Patients With Corneal Epithelial Healing Time Within 14 Daysevery day till total re-epithelization up to 14 daysPatients were hospitalized and examined daily for graft re-epithelialization, which was the main outcome measure.Corneal epithelial healing(the process which the new corneal epithelial cells regenerated to cover the bare cornea lost of its epithelium, the cornea's outer layer) was recorded daily by slit-lamp examination with fluorescein staining.Patients with post-operative chronic persistent epithelial defects for \>14 days after the operation were treated with therapeutic contact lens (TCL) application and followed up as outpatients.

Secondary

MeasureTime frame
Patients With Corneal Complications Due to Delayed Surface Re-epithelization (e.g. Infectious Corneal Ulcer, Corneal Melting, Sterile Corneal Ulcer, Corneal Neovascularization)every day till total re-epithelization up to 14 days

Countries

Taiwan

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Autologous Serum Use
Patients treated with autoserum after diabetic vitrectomy or penetrating keratoplasty
82
Non-autologous Serum Use
Patients treated with traditional medication after diabetic vitrectomy or penetrating keratoplasty
83
Total165

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicNon-autologous Serum UseAutologous Serum UseTotal
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
38 Participants40 Participants78 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
45 Participants42 Participants87 Participants
Age Continuous59.8 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 17.6
60.8 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 18.1
60.3 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 19.3
Region of Enrollment
Taiwan
83 participants82 participants165 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
42 Participants44 Participants86 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
41 Participants38 Participants79 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
— / —— / —
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 820 / 83
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 820 / 83

Outcome results

Primary

Patients With Corneal Epithelial Healing Time Within 14 Days

Patients were hospitalized and examined daily for graft re-epithelialization, which was the main outcome measure.Corneal epithelial healing(the process which the new corneal epithelial cells regenerated to cover the bare cornea lost of its epithelium, the cornea's outer layer) was recorded daily by slit-lamp examination with fluorescein staining.Patients with post-operative chronic persistent epithelial defects for \>14 days after the operation were treated with therapeutic contact lens (TCL) application and followed up as outpatients.

Time frame: every day till total re-epithelization up to 14 days

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Autologous Serum UsePatients With Corneal Epithelial Healing Time Within 14 Days78 participants
Non-autologous Serum UsePatients With Corneal Epithelial Healing Time Within 14 Days73 participants
Secondary

Patients With Corneal Complications Due to Delayed Surface Re-epithelization (e.g. Infectious Corneal Ulcer, Corneal Melting, Sterile Corneal Ulcer, Corneal Neovascularization)

Time frame: every day till total re-epithelization up to 14 days

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Autologous Serum UsePatients With Corneal Complications Due to Delayed Surface Re-epithelization (e.g. Infectious Corneal Ulcer, Corneal Melting, Sterile Corneal Ulcer, Corneal Neovascularization)0 participants
Non-autologous Serum UsePatients With Corneal Complications Due to Delayed Surface Re-epithelization (e.g. Infectious Corneal Ulcer, Corneal Melting, Sterile Corneal Ulcer, Corneal Neovascularization)0 participants

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026