Earlier Intervention for Neurotrophic Keratitis?

Overview

A retrospective study involving nearly 1,000 patients supports the use of decellularized basement membrane (DBM) grafts for neurotrophic keratitis (NK). The study found complete corneal epithelial resolution in all cases with follow-up, alongside significant improvements in corneal sensitivity and ocular surface biomarkers.

Background

Neurotrophic keratitis is a condition that can lead to serious ocular complications, including vision loss, if not diagnosed and treated early. The study examines the use of DBM grafts in patients with NK.

Data Highlights

Brill Severity Group	Corneal Sensitivity Improvement (%)	Osmolarity Normalization (%)	MMP-9 Positivity Conversion (%)
Brill 3	0.7	70-82	56-66
Brill 4	31.6	70-82	56-66
Brill 5	77.5	70-82	56-66

Key Findings

Corneal epithelial resolution occurred in all eyes with complete follow-up.
Functional corneal sensitivity improved significantly, especially in advanced Brill severity groups.
70-82% of eyes with abnormal baseline osmolarity normalized after treatment.
MMP-9 positivity decreased across all severity groups, with 56-66% of positive eyes converting to negative.
Mean DBM grafts used varied by disease severity, with an average of 3.70 in Brill 3, 3.08 in Brill 4, and 4.30 in Brill 5.

Clinical Implications

The findings indicate that DBM grafts may be beneficial in cases with compromised corneal sensitivity.

Conclusion

This study provides evidence supporting the use of DBM grafts for neurotrophic keratitis.

Earlier Intervention for Neurotrophic Keratitis?

New data support earlier use of decellularized basement membrane grafts in neurotrophic keratitis