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Br J Ophthalmol 2008;92:896-900 doi:10.1136/bjo.2007.130013
  • Original Article
    • Clinical science

Open clinical study of eye-drops containing tetrapeptides derived from substance P and insulin-like growth factor-1 for treatment of persistent corneal epithelial defects associated with neurotrophic keratopathy

  1. N Yamada1,
  2. R Matsuda1,
  3. N Morishige1,
  4. R Yanai1,
  5. T-i Chikama2,
  6. T Nishida1,
  7. T Ishimitsu3,
  8. A Kamiya3
  1. 1
    Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube City, Japan
  2. 2
    Department of Ocular Pathophysiology, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Ube City, Japan
  3. 3
    Department of Pharmacy, Yamaguchi University Hospital, Ube City, Japan
  1. Dr N Yamada, Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube City, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan; n.yamada{at}po.cc.yamaguchi-u.ac.jp
  • Accepted 30 March 2008
  • Published Online First 29 May 2008

Abstract

Background/aims: Loss of corneal sensation results in the development of persistent corneal epithelial defects. The combination of a substance P-derived peptide (FGLM-amide) and an insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)-derived peptide (SSSR) stimulates rabbit corneal epithelial migration in vitro and rabbit corneal epithelial wound closure in vivo. The clinical efficacy of eye-drops containing FGLM-amide and SSSR for the treatment of persistent corneal epithelial defects in individuals with neurotrophic keratopathy was examined in a prospective open study.

Methods: Twenty-five consecutive patients (26 eyes) with persistent corneal epithelial defects associated with neurotrophic keratopathy were treated by administration of eye-drops containing FGLM-amide and SSSR. The course of epithelial healing was monitored by slit-lamp examination.

Results: Epithelial defects resurfaced completely in 19 of the 26 eyes (73%) within 4 weeks after treatment initiation. Complete resurfacing of epithelial defects was apparent in 18 of 22 (82%) or in one of four (25%) eyes without or with limbal stem cell deficiency, respectively. No adverse effects of treatment were observed in any subject.

Conclusion: Eye-drops containing FGLM-amide and SSSR induced the rapid resurfacing of persistent epithelial defects in stem cell-positive individuals with neurotrophic keratopathy.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: None.

  • Ethics approval: The open non-randomised clinical study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Yamaguchi University Hospital.

  • Patient consent: Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects.

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