Abstract
Purpose :
KN-A01 is a novel intillable hydrogel based on modified hyaluronic acid. In a previous rabbit study, we found that more than 30% of KN-A01 was able to retain on the eye surfaces over 5 hours. In this study, we evaluate its therapeutic effect in combination with cyclosporine in dog patients with dry eye syndrome.
Methods :
Dog patients that are diagnosed with dry eye syndrome and have been on 4-6 times a day conventional artificial tear in combination with cyclosporine treatment for over 1 year was enrolled in the study. Based on the clinical outcome of the previous cyclosporine treatment, patients were divided into two groups, cyclosporine responsive and cyclosporine nonresponsive. Both groups were switched to twice a day KN-A01 in combination with cyclosporine. Seven clinical signs including blephorospasm, discharge, corneal staining and Schirmer’s test were scored and conjunctival cells were collected by indentation cytology (IC) before the initiation of the study and 1 month after the treatment with KN-A01. The cells collected by IC were evaluated by immunohistology for MMP-9 positive cells.
Results :
KN-A01 was well tolerated by all dogs and well received by dog owners because of the reduced number of instillation required. The preliminary results show that KN-A01 was able to maintain the therapeutic effect over the test period (Figure 1). For some dogs, clinical signs were improved after the 1 month treatment.
Conclusions :
KN-A01 can potentially be useful for treating dry eye diseases because of its therapeutic effect and less frequent dosing.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2018 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 29 - May 3, 2018.