Topical fibronectin therapy in persistent corneal ulceration.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Persistent corneal ulceration poses a significant therapeutic challenge, often resisting conventional treatments.
• Various underlying conditions, including post-keratoplasty, mucous membrane pemphigoid, herpetic keratitis, Sjögren's syndrome, and trophic ulcers, can lead to refractory corneal issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of topical autologous fibronectin in treating persistent corneal ulceration resistant to standard therapies.
• To determine the effectiveness of fibronectin across different etiologies of corneal ulceration.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 15 patients with 20 episodes of refractory corneal ulcers received topical autologous fibronectin following a standardized protocol.
• Patient data included ulcer etiology, treatment duration, and response to fibronectin therapy.

Main Results:

• Topical fibronectin successfully healed 16 out of 20 corneal ulcers (80%) after a mean treatment duration of 2.3 months.
• While ulcers associated with mucous membrane pemphigoid did not respond, recurrent ulcers healed upon reintroduction of fibronectin therapy.
• The treatment was found to be free of major side effects.

Conclusions:

• Topical autologous fibronectin is an effective therapeutic option for refractory corneal ulceration, offering a new treatment avenue.
• Fibronectin demonstrates particular efficacy in non-pemphigoid related corneal ulcers and shows potential for managing recurrent cases.