Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate the efficacy of Plasma Rich in Growth Factors (PRGF) treatment on the wound healing process in mechanically produced corneal ulcers.
Methods: :
Eight millilitres of blood from 24 New Zealand rabbits were obtained by venipuncture. PRGF was obtained and conserved as previously described. An epithelial debridement of 9 mm of diameter was done in 1 eye from each of the 24 rabbits. Four groups of 6 rabbits were treated topically 4 times daily with: 1) non-diluted, 2) 50% diluted, 3) 20% diluted PRGF, or 4) unpreserved tear substitute (control). The healing of the ulcers was measured by its diameter, and the degree of infiltration and neovascularization. The healing was supervised every day up to the complete healing of the wounds as seen with fluorescein staining. All rabbits were treated under the ARVO statements on the Care and Use of Animals in Vision Research.
Results: :
The results show that PRGF accelerated the corneal wound healing process. Although the time of corneal wound healing was reduced when treated with 20 and 50% PRGF, there were not significant differences with respect to control treatment. However, when we used the non-diluted concentration the wound healing was faster and it showed statistically significant differences. In all cases we could confirm the normal histology of the healed epithelium.
Conclusions: :
Treatment with PRGF can be an efficient way to provide essential components to the ocular surface and to improve the reepithelization of corneal defects when compared to treatment with pharmaceutical tear substitutes.
Keywords: cornea: epithelium • wound healing • growth factors/growth factor receptors