Comparison of the efficiency of concentrated growth factor and thrombocyte-rich fibrin on treatment of experimental cornea defects in rabbits

In this study, it was aimed to investigate and evaluate the effectiveness of concentrated growth factor (CGF) and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) on early healing in the treatment of experimentally created corneal defects in rabbits. The material consisted of 18 adult healthy New Zealand White Rabbits weighing 3 kg. Rabbits are random in equal numbers; They were divided into 3 groups as CGF (Group I- n=6), PRF (Group II- n=6) and control (Group III- n=6). Before starting the experimental phase, clinical and ophthalmic examinations were performed. Under general anesthesia, a defect of 6 mm in the center of the cornea was created in 18 eyes (right) with biopsy punch and corneal knife of 18 rabbits. Rabbits in Group I were sutured to the conjunctiva with 6/0 propylene, fixing the CBF produced from venous blood in such a way that it completely covered the cornea. The eyelids were closed by applying tarsorrhaphy. The rabbits in Group II were fixed with PRF produced from venous blood in such a way that it completely covered the cornea and fixed with 6/0 propylene to the conjunctiva. The eyelids were closed by applying tarsorrhaphy. The rabbits in Group III, on the other hand, were dripped with 0.9% isotonic serum on the cornea, and the eyelids were closed by performing tarsorrhaphy. All groups were taken to care for 10 days post-operatively. Nutrition, mobility, infection and suture failure were observed. At the end of the post-operative 10th day, clinical examinations of all groups were performed. After measuring the amount of intraocular pressure (mm/Hg, IOP) using a tonometer, Schirmer tear test and fluorescein staining, he was euthanized and histopathologically examined. It was noted that the results obtained when IOP measurement and Schirmer tear strip application of rabbits in Group I and Group II were within normal values, and showed good results in terms of reepithelialization after fluorescein treatment. In the rabbits in Group III, it was determined that the IOP measurement was above normal values, the amount of tears in the Schirmer test was significantly reduced, and it gave poor results in terms of reepithelialization. After the histopathological examination of all rabbits in the groups, when the groups were sorted, it was observed that the epithelial healing, the formation of collagen bundles and capillary vessel proliferation were better in the rabbits in Group I, followed immediately by the rabbits in Group II. In the rabbits in Group III, the healing of the damaged area was observed to be the least when compared to the other groups. As a result, it was concluded that CBF and PRF are easy to prepare, they are produced from the patient's blood, they are a low cost procedure that does not form any immunological reaction, and as a result of our experiment, successful results can be obtained and they can be used safely due to their contribution to the reepithelialization of corneal defects. Key words: Concentrated growth factor, platelet-rich fibrin, cornea, rabbit.