The Effect of 5% Serum Albumin on Intractable Corneal Epithelial Keratitis: a Case Series and Literature Review.

Hwang, Yousook; Cho, Yang Kyung

doi:2018.59.5.403

J Korean Ophthalmol Soc > Volume 59(5); 2018 > Article

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 2018;59(5):403-409.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2018.59.5.403 Published online May 15, 2018.

The Effect of 5% Serum Albumin on Intractable Corneal Epithelial Keratitis: a Case Series and Literature Review.

Yousook Hwang, Yang Kyung Cho

Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea. yangkyeung@hanmail.net

난치 각막상피질환 환자에서 5% 혈청알부민 점안액의 효과: 임상증례 및 문헌고찰

황유숙⋅조양경

가톨릭대학교 의과대학 안과 및 시과학교실

Correspondence: Yang Kyung Cho,
Email: yangkyeung@hanmail.net

Received: 11 January 2018 • Revised: 22 February 2018 • Accepted: 20 April 2018

Abstract

PURPOSE
We report five cases of intractable epithelial keratitis in which 5% serum albumin showed significant effects as a topical treatment when compared with other previous conservative treatments based on a literature review. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational case series of five patients with intractable corneal epithelial keratitis who used serum albumin as a topical treatment. All patients had already been using other conservative treatments such as non-preserved artificial tears and autologous serum eye drops. The size of the epithelial defect and the time taken for closure of the epithelial defect were observed. RESULTS: The study involved five patients with intractable corneal epithelial disease with a mean follow-up time of 6 months. The epithelial lesions improved with the use of 5% serum albumin from the beginning of treatment and lasted throughout the follow- up period. The mean time to complete epithelial closure using 5% serum albumin eye drops was 21 days. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with 5% serum albumin eye drops may have a significant and stable effect in the treatment of intractable corneal epithelial disease.

Key Words: Intractable corneal epithelial keratitis;Serum albumin eye drop