Abstract
Background: Corneal ulcer could be a major source of distress in small animals, with many contributing agents. In recent years, few studies evaluated the efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in healing corneal ulcers.Aim: This study aimed to assess the ability of subconjunctival injection of autologous PRP in the treatment of corneal ulcers in dogs and cats as well as estimate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, and oxidative stress biomarkers in these patients.Methods: A total number of 28 animals (16 cats and 12 dogs) were enrolled in this study. Each animal was subjected to clinical, neurologic, and ophthalmic examinations where the type of ulcer was documented. Tear samples were collected for evaluation of oxidative biomarkers and MMPs; conjunctival swabs were taken to identify the involved organism. PRP was prepared from each animal and given as subconjunctival injection; numbers of injections were done according to case response. Clinical follow-up was done and documented for each case.Results: In cat patients, female and Persian cats were most affected; unilateral and superficial ulcers were most recorded. In male dogs, unilateral, and superficial ulcers were most recorded. FHV-1 was most identified in cats, while Staphylococcus aureus was most identified in dogs. Numbers of injections needed to achieve healing were recorded, with 50% of dogs needing two injections with 1-week intervals and 50% of cats needed three injections with 1-week intervals. Alterations in both oxidative biomarkers and MMPs were recorded in affected animals.Conclusion: The use of autologous PRP as a subconjunctival injection in treating corneal ulcers in dogs and cats is effective. The number of injections is the case and corneal ulcer type-dependent.Clinical Significance: Autologous PRP as a subconjunctival injection in treating corneal ulcer is a relatively cheap, safe method and can be done in the clinical setting.
Highlights
Corneal ulceration is defined as a defect in the epithelium with stromal loss and/or inflammation [1]
Aim: This study aimed to assess the ability of subconjunctival injection of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in the treatment of corneal ulcers in dogs and cats as well as estimate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, and oxidative stress biomarkers in these patients
A significant increase in MDA associated with a significant decrease in CAT and a nonsignificant decrease in total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was reported in tear samples of cats with corneal ulcer as compared with treated cats, while dogs showed a significant decrease in both CAT and TAC associated with the significant increase in MDA in tear samples of affected dogs compared with treated dogs
Summary
Corneal ulceration is defined as a defect in the epithelium with stromal loss and/or inflammation [1]. Corneal ulcers can cause a great deal of discomfort in patients, and it was accounted for up to 0.80% of conditions diagnosed in primary care practice in the UK [2] Contributing etiologies for this condition are numerous; trauma, bacterial or fungal infection, and immune-mediated diseases are the most reported causes [3]. Extensive researches were conducted to treat corneal ulceration; recently, trials with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) were performed to assess its efficacy in healing corneal ulcers [4]. These trials were conducted after promising findings were recorded in experimental animals [1, 5]. Few studies evaluated the efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in healing corneal ulcers
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