Effect of recombinant human nerve growth factor treatment on corneal nerve regeneration in patients with neurotrophic keratopathy

作者：Ana Balbuena-Pareja, Chloe S. Bogen, Stephanie Cox, Pedram Hamrah · 发表于：Frontiers in Neuroscience · 年份：2023 · DOI：10.3389/fnins.2023.1210179 · 被引用次数：32 · 研究领域：Ocular Surface and Contact Lens、Corneal Surgery and Treatments、Nerve injury and regeneration

Introduction Neurotrophic Keratopathy (NK) is a neurodegenerative corneal disease that results in diminished corneal sensation. Previous studies have found that Cenegermin 0.002%, a recombinant human nerve growth factor (rhNGF), improves corneal epithelial healing in stage 2 and 3 NK patients. However, rhNGF effect on corneal sensation and nerve regeneration has not been well established. Thus, this study aims to analyze the effect of rhNGF on corneal nerve regeneration using in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) and on corneal sensitivity in NK patients. Methods This is a retrospective, longitudinal, case–control study that included patients with NK, treated with rhNGF for at least 4 weeks, with pre- and post-treatment IVCM images available for analysis. Chart reviews were conducted documenting prior medical and surgical history, clinical signs and symptoms, and corneal sensation using Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometry. Corneal nerve parameters were assessed by IVCM. Sex- and age-matched reference controls were selected from a database of healthy subjects for comparison. Results The study included 25 patients, with 22 (88%) stage 1, two (8%) stage 2, and 1 (4%) stage 3 NK patients, with a median age of 64 years (range: 30–93 years). Total, main, and branch nerve densities [median (range) in mm/mm 2 ] were lower in the NK group pre-treatment [2.3 (0.0–21.1); 1.7 (0.0–13.0); 0.5 (0.0–10.2); respectively] vs. controls [22.3 (14.9–29.0); 10.1 (3.2–15.4); and 12.1 (6.2–18.4), ( p <...