Abstract
Purpose: :
To compare, both in vitro and in vivo, the capacity of three blood derivatives on the healing of corneal epithelial ulcers.
Methods: :
In vitro wound healing experiments were performed using primary cultures of rabbit corneal epithelium. For in vivo assays a debridement of rabbit corneal epithelium was induced and the healing rate closure was analyzed. For both, in vitro and in vivo assays, we studied the following treatments: 1) Autologous Serum (AS), 2) Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and 3) Plasma Rich in Growth Factors (PRGF) or 4) unpreserved tear substitute (control). To manufacture the blood derivatives eight millilitres of blood from 16 New Zealand rabbits were obtained. All rabbits were treated under the ARVO statements on the Care and Use of Animals in Vision Research.
Results: :
The results show, in vitro and in vivo, that both PRGF and AS accelerate the corneal wound healing process compared to control and PRP. Both treatments show statistically significant differences with control treatment. The normal histology of all corneas was confirmed after the complete healing of wounded epithelia.
Conclusions: :
Treatment with PRGF or AS can be an efficient way to provide essential components to the ocular surface and to improve the re-epithelization of corneal defects when compared to treatment with a pharmaceutical tear substitute.
Keywords: wound healing • cornea: epithelium