Topical Plasminogen as Adjunctive Treatment in Recurrent Ligneous Conjunctivitis

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Genetics
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Ligneous conjunctivitis is a rare, autosomal recessive disorder linked to plasminogen deficiency.
• Characterized by fibrin-rich pseudomembranes on the conjunctiva, leading to discomfort and vision impairment.
• Current surgical treatments often result in conjunctival irritation and rapid pseudomembrane recurrence.

Observation:

• An interventional case report details the treatment of a 32-year-old woman with ligneous conjunctivitis.
• The patient underwent surgical excision of conjunctival pseudomembranes.
• Hourly topical application of plasminogen eye drops was administered immediately post-surgery.

Findings:

• Follow-up assessments at 1 week, 1 month, and 5 months revealed no pseudomembrane recurrence.
• Topical plasminogen application demonstrated efficacy in preventing the reformation of membranous material.
• The treatment was observed to be safe, with no reported adverse effects.

Implications:

• Adjunctive topical plasminogen may be a valuable therapeutic strategy for ligneous conjunctivitis.
• This approach offers a potential solution to the challenge of recurrent pseudomembranes.
• Further research could validate topical plasminogen as a standard treatment for plasminogen deficiency-related conjunctival disorders.