Therapeutic Effects of 0.03% Tacrolimus Eye Drops for Chronic Ocular Graft-Versus-Host Disease.

Choi, Soon Il; Chung, So Hyang

doi:2015.56.10.1505

J Korean Ophthalmol Soc > Volume 56(10); 2015 > Article

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 2015;56(10):1505-1510.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2015.56.10.1505 Published online October 15, 2015.

Therapeutic Effects of 0.03% Tacrolimus Eye Drops for Chronic Ocular Graft-Versus-Host Disease.

Soon Il Choi, So Hyang Chung

Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. chungsh@catholic.ac.kr

만성 안구 이식편대숙주병 환자에서 0.03% Tacrolimus 안약의 치료효과

최순일⋅정소향

가톨릭대학교 의과대학 서울성모병원 안과 및 시과학교실

Received: 15 May 2015 • Revised: 22 June 2015 • Accepted: 4 September 2015

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the therapeutic effects of 0.03% tacrolimus eye drops on dry eye associated with chronic ocular graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). METHODS: This study included 24 eyes of 12 patients with refractory dry eye associated with chronic ocular GVHD who were unresponsive to topical steroid and 0.05% topical cyclosporine. The topical steroid and cyclosporine were discontinued for 2 weeks before treatment and 0.03% tacrolimus eye drops were applied twice a day for 1 month. Artificial tears, ointment, and lid cleanser were used in the same manner before initiating tacrolimus treatment. Ocular staining score, tear break-up time, ocular surface disease index (OSDI), and Schirmer I test score were evaluated. RESULTS: Ocular staining score, tear break-up time, and OSDI improved with statistical significance (p < 0.05) after 28 days of treatment. Schirmer I test did not show statistical improvement after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The use of 0.03% tacrolimus eye drops were effective for refractory dry eye associated with chronic ocular GVHD.

Key Words: Cyclosporine;Ocular graft-versus-host disease (GVHD);Tacrolimus