Use of Umbilical Cord Serum in Ophthalmology
- Author:
Kyung Chul YOON
1
Author Information
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords: Ophthalmology; Umbilical cord; Serum; Dry eye
- MeSH: Burns, Chemical; Epithelium; Fetal Blood; Fibronectins; Graft vs Host Disease; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells; Nerve Growth Factors; Neurons; Ophthalmic Solutions; Ophthalmology; Prealbumin; Refractive Surgical Procedures; Regenerative Medicine; Retinaldehyde; Serum; Sjogren's Syndrome; Tears; Tissue Engineering; Umbilical Cord; Vitamin A
- From:Chonnam Medical Journal 2014;50(3):82-85
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: Among blood preparations, serum has been topically used in the management of various ocular diseases in ophthalmology. Like peripheral blood serum, umbilical cord blood serum contains a high concentration of essential tear components, growth factors, neurotrophic factors, vitamin A, fibronectin, prealbumin, and oil. Umbilical cord serum can provide basic nutrients for epithelial renewal and can facilitate the proliferation, migration, and differentiation of the ocular surface epithelium. Eye drops made from umbilical cord serum have been applied to treat various ocular surface diseases, including severe dry eye with or without Sjogren's syndrome, ocular complications in graft-versus-host disease, persistent epithelial defects, neurotrophic keratopathy, recurrent corneal erosions, ocular chemical burn, and surface problems after corneal refractive surgery. Because mesenchymal stem cells from umbilical cord blood can be used to regenerate corneal tissue and retinal nerve cells, umbilical cord serum might be applied for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine in the future.
