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Br J Ophthalmol 1999;83:390-395 doi:10.1136/bjo.83.4.390
  • Original Article

Treatment of dry eye by autologous serum application in Sjögren’s syndrome

  1. Kazuo Tsubotaa,b,c,
  2. Eiki Gotoa,b,c,
  3. Hiromi Fujitaa,c,
  4. Masafumi Onoa,d,
  5. Hiroko Inouea,
  6. Ichiro Saitoe,
  7. Shigeto Shimmuraa,b,c
  1. aDepartment of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Dental College, Chiba, Japan, bDepartment of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan, cOral Research Center, Tokyo Dental College, Chiba, Japan, dDepartment of Ophthalmology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan, eDepartment of Pathology, Tokushima University School of Dentistry, Tokushima, Japan
  1. Kazuo Tsubota, MD, Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Dental College, 11–13 Sugano 5 Chome, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba, Japan 272–8513.
  • Accepted 26 August 1998

Abstract

AIM To evaluate the efficacy of autologous serum application for the treatment of dry eye in Sjögren’s syndrome.

METHODS The stability of essential components (EGF, vitamin A, and TGF-β) in preserved serum were examined following preservation at 4°C and −20°C. In a primary clinical trial, 12 patients with Sjögren’s syndrome were treated with autologous serum (diluted to 20% with sterile saline) for 4 weeks, and vital staining of the ocular surface was compared before and after treatment. The effects of serum on mucin (MUC-1) expression were observed in cultured conjunctival epithelial cells in vitro.

RESULTS EGF, vitamin A, and TGF-β were well preserved for up to 1 month in the refrigerator at 4°C and up to 3 months in the freezer at −20°C. Rose bengal and fluorescein scores improved significantly from the initial scores of 5.3 and 5.6 to 1.7 and 2.5 after 4 weeks, respectively. The additive effect of human serum for cultured conjunctival epithelial cells showed significant MUC-1 upregulation on the cell surface.

CONCLUSION Autologous serum application is a safe and efficient way to provide essential components to the ocular surface in the treatment of dry eye associated with Sjögren’s syndrome.

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