Autologous PRP Usage as a Mono Therapy for the Treatment of Moderate to Severe DED

Abstract

Background: Platelets have a lot of important functions such as repairing tissue damage, coagulation which prevents blood loss,and its higher concentration of anti-inflammatory, cytokines, growth factors and other platelet derivatives, that can stimulate the proliferation and regeneration of stem cells which could be with high benefit for the required ocular surface restoration in cases of moderate and severe dry eye.This study aimed to evaluate the role of autologous PRP as a monotherapy versus artificial tears (Hyaluronic acid) use for better management of dry eye disease.Patients and Methods: A prospective randomized clinical trial was carried out at Ophthalmology Department inZagazig University Hospital during the period from February 2020 to January 2021, included 62 patients with moderate to severe dry eye disease(Schirmer`s test outcomes of 5.5 mm or lower). They were divided into two groups randomly 31 patients in each group. Autologous PRP had been prepared from fresh blood samples of group (A) patients with DED and used in the form of eye-drops while, artificial tears (Hyaluronic acid) were used in group (B). Results: There was a statistically significant increase in TBUT in group (A) only from before to after treatment. There was no statistically significant difference regarding TBUT in group (B) from before to after treatment. There is a statistically significant increase in BCVA in both groups from before to after treatment but the improvement was more significant in group (A) compared to group (B). Conclusion:Monotherapy with autologous PRP eye drops has shown to be a very good option for the treatment of moderate to severe DED. It can therefore be concluded that PRP is an interesting alternative therapy in symptomatic dry eye.