Background In recent years, there has been increased use of plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF-Endoret) which is extracted from the patient’s blood in order to treat ocular surface diseases. PRGF is a promising tool in ocular surface diseases due to its potential to stimulate and accelerate tissue healing. It contains more platelets and growth factors and it does not include leukocytes.

Purpose To describe the use of a new therapy based on PRGF eye drops and the baseline and pathological characteristics of the participants with ocular surface disease.

Material and methods A retrospective observational study was carried out from September 2016 to 2017 in a tertiary hospital. We included patients who were treated with PRGF and collected it at the Outpatient Pharmaceutical Care unit of the hospital pharmacy. The PRGF eye drops was manufactured in the pharmacy service with a commercial kit. The demographics and clinical parameters were collected from the medical history: age, sex, number of patients, and the pathology and the efficacy of the treatment.

Results The 76% of patients treated with PRGF (n=14)were evaluated (17 eyes). The mean age was 66 years (53–81). Forty-five per cent of the patients were females (n=5). The most frequent pathology was corneal epithelial disruption (73%, n=8) followed by Sjogren syndrome (18%, n=2) and keratopathy and keratitis (9%, n=1). A total of 10 patients were treated previously with autologous serum eye drops without success. After the beginning of treatment with PRGF, 81% of patients showed a resolution of their ocular surface disease. Only two patients did not show an improvement in their clinical symptoms. The average treatment duration with PRGF was 5.7 months. Concerning security, in this period no adverse event related to the PRGF eye drops were detected. The burden of care for the Pharmacy Department resulted in 21 dispensations (two dispensations on average per patient) and a total of 651 PRGF single-dose eye drops prepared and dispensed to patients. Nursing staff took about 2 hours to prepare each dispensation.

Conclusion The study showed that the use of PRGF eye drops is effective in treating ocular surface diseases. Regarding tolerance for PRGF, it seems safe for the patients. In addition, preparing and dispensing this treatment resulted in an increase in workload in the Pharmacy Department.

References and/or Acknowledgements To my workmate. Thank you.

No conflict of interest