Safety, Efficacy of Topical Recombinant Human Nerve Growth Factor for Corneal Epithelial Regeneration
Topically applied recombinant human nerve growth factor (rhNGF) eye drops for corneal epithelial regeneration in patients with refractory epitheliopathy is safe and efficacious, according to the results of a recent retrospective chart review.
Included were 14 patients with refractory epithelial keratopathy due to stage 1 neurotropic keratitis. All participants were treated with topical rhNGF. Patient chart data on demographics and ocular/systemic past medical history were extracted.
Researchers examined visual acuity and corneal staining scores of all participants at baseline as well as 8-weeks and 3-months follow-up. Before and after treatment measurements were taken on the worse eye.
Following 8 weeks of treatment with topical rhNGF, improvements were observed in the median corneal staining score in the worse eye (from 4 to 1; p .001). At 8-weeks, all individuals had at least one-grade improvement in corneal staining. At 3-months, this outcome persisted in seven patients.
Further, individuals with post-radiation epithelial keratopathy, prior laser eye surgery, and Sjogren disease had a better response to treatment. Individuals with chronic use of other topical treatments and those with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus had incomplete responses. Eight patients had mild-to-moderate discomfort from drop application, but all eight noted the discomfort resolved after completion of treatment.
“Topical rhNGF was effective and safe for refractory epithelial keratopathy in our small cohort study, but sustained effects were seen only in certain etiologies for up to 3 months,” the researchers concluded “Further studies are needed for optimal dosing and duration based on underlying causes.”
Reference:
Dai X, Tunc U, Zhu X, Karrakus S. Effect of topical recombinant human nerve growth factor on corneal epithelial regeneration in refractory epithelial keratopathy. Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2024;1:1-7. doi:10.1080/09273948.2024.2322012