Veterinary Research Forum

Efficacy of autologous, homologous, and heterologous blood serums in healing of chemically induced corneal ulcers in dogs: a clinical and ultrasonographic study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Faraz Fotouhi 1
Alaleh Rakhshanpour 2
Ramin Mazaheri Khameneh 3
seyed mohammad hashemi-asl 3

1 DVM Graduate, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

2 Department of Clinical Pathology and Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

3 Department of Surgery and Diagnostic Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

https://doi.org/10.30466/vrf.2025.2068702.4874
Abstract
Corneal ulcers, particularly from alkaline chemical injuries, are a leading ocular complication in animals, accounting for about 20.00% of emergency referrals. These burns damage the conjunctiva and cornea, causing deep ulcers, potential perforation, delayed healing, infections and blindness. Prompt treatment is crucial to accelerate healing and minimize complications like permanent opacity. This study compared the efficacy of blood serums (autologous, homologous, and heterologous) against standard treatment (N-acetylcysteine and ciprofloxacin eye drops) and a control group (Normal saline) in treating induced corneal ulcers in five groups consisting of 10 healthy mixed-breed female dogs. Ulcers were created using 3.00 M sodium hydroxide-soaked filter paper on both eyes. Evaluations on 1, 7, 14, and 21 days assessed quantitative parameters (Total corneal and stromal thickness, ulcer diameter) and qualitative symptoms (photophobia, blepharospasm, discharge, congestion, edema, neovascularization, opacity) via ultrasonography and clinical exams, respectively. Results showed significant time- and treatment-dependent improvements. Heterologous serum notably reduced thickness and ulcer diameter from day seven compared to others. By days 14 - 21, all treatments (serums and drugs) lowered stromal thickness versus control. Qualitative parameters were improved significantly with all treatments from day seven. These findings supported the use of blood-derived serums, especially heterologous serum, to accelerate healing and improving clinical outcomes in canine corneal ulcers.

Keywords

Corneal ulcer
Dog
Serum therapy
Ultrasound
Subjects
1.     Tsubota K, Yokoi N, Shimazaki J, et al. New perspectives on dry eye definition and diagnosis: a consensus report by the Asia Dry Eye Society. Ocul Surf 2017; 15(1): 65-76.
2.     Farghali HA, AbdElKader NA, AbuBakr HO, et al. Corneal ulcer in dogs and cats: novel clinical application of regenerative therapy using sub-conjunctival injection of autologous platelet-rich plasma. Front Vet Sci. 2021; 8: 641265. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.641265.
3.     Packer RM, Hendricks A, Burn CC. Impact of facial conformation on canine health: corneal ulceration. PLoS One 2015; 10(5): e0123827. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0123827.
4.     Kwok JM, Chew HF. Chemical injuries of the eye. CMAJ 2019; 191(37): E1028. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.190428.
5.     Sharma N, Kaur M, Agarwal T, et al. Treatment of acute ocular chemical burns. Surv Ophthalmol 2018; 63(2): 214-235.
6.     Campos CF, Jorge AT, Talieri IC, et al. Ocular alkali lesions in dogs. Acetylcysteine and blood serum effects. Braz J Vet Res Anim Sci 2003; 40: 36-44.
7.     Brown SI, Weller CA. Collagenase inhibitors in prevention of ulcers of alkali-burned cornea. Arch Ophthalmol 1970; 83(3): 352-353.
8.     Simona DP, Chiara C, Francesca A, et al. Platelet rich plasma eye drops: preparation, storage and clinical use in dogs and cats. Preliminary results. Arch Vet Sci Technol 2017; 01: 104. doi: 10.29011/AVST-104-100004.
9.     Blair P, Flaumenhaft R. Platelet alpha-granules: basic biology and clinical correlates. Blood Rev. 2009; 23(4): 177-189.
10. Tsubota K, Goto E, Fujita H, et al. Treatment of dry eye by autologous serum application in Sjögren’s syndrome. Br J Ophthalmol 1999; 83(4): 390-395.
11. Li Z, Rumbaut RE, Burns AR, et al. Platelet response to corneal abrasion is necessary for acute inflammation and efficient re-epithelialization. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2006; 47(11): 4794-4802.
12. Bunker DJ, George RJ, Kleinschmidt A, et al. Alkali-related ocular burns: a case series and review. J Burn Care Res 2014; 35(3): 261-268.
13. Bedi DG, Gombos DS, Ng CS, et al. Sonography of the eye. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2006; 187(4): 1061-1072.
14. Cañeba JAS, Reyes MF, Acorda JA, et al. Ultrasonographic features of experimentally-induced corneal ulcer treated with autologous serum in dogs. Philipp J Vet Med 2017; 54(1): 9-16.
15. Muellerleile LM, Bernkopf M, Wambacher M, et al. Topical bevacizumab for the treatment of corneal vascularization in dogs: a case series. Vet Ophthalmol 2021; 24(5): 554-568.
16. Marchini G, Pagliarusco A, Tosi R, et al. Ultrasonographic findings in endophthalmitis. Acta Ophthalmol Scand 1995; 73(5): 446-449.
17. Ragab GA, Fathy MZ. Ultrasonographic findings of some ocular affections in dogs. Assiut Vet Med J 2018; 157(64): 32-37.
18. Kilker BA, Holst JM, Hoffmann B. Bedside ocular ultrasound in the emergency department. Eur J Emerg Med 2014; 21(4): 246-253.
19. Barrientez B, Nicholas SE, Whelchel A, et al. Corneal injury: clinical and molecular aspects. Exp Eye Res 2019; 186: 107709. doi: 10.1016/j.exer.2019.107709.
20. Bizrah M, Yusuf A, Ahmad S. An update on chemical eye burns. Eye (Lond) 2019; 33(9): 1362-1377.
21. Abdelghany AA, Bahrawy ME, Alio JL. Combined platelet rich plasma and amniotic membrane in the treatment of perforated corneal ulcers. Eur J Ophthalmol 2022; 32(4): 2148-2152.
22. Gakhramanov FS. Effect of natural antioxidants on antioxidant activity and lipid peroxidation in eye tissue of rabbits with chemical burns. Bull Exp Biol Med 2005; 140: 289-291.
23. Anitua E, de la Fuente M, Riestra A, et al. Preservation of biological activity of plasma and platelet-derived eye drops after their different time and temperature conditions of storage. Cornea 2015; 34(9): 1144-1148.
24. Kaya FS, Akova YA. The effect of autologous serum eye drop application on epithelization in the treatment of various ocular surface disorders and its safety [Turkish]. Turk J Ophthalmol 2012; 42(5): 336-341.
25. Ziakas NG, Boboridis KG, Terzidou C, et al. Long‐term follow up of autologous serum treatment for recurrent corneal erosions. Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2010; 38(7): 683-687.
26. Alio JL, Ayala MJ, Mulet ME, et al. Antioxidant therapy in the treatment of experimental acute corneal inflammation. Ophthalmic Res 1995; 27(3): 136-143.
27. Günay C, Sağlıyan A, Yılmaz S, et al. Evaluation of autologous serum eyedrops for the treatment of experimentally induced corneal alcali burns. Rev Med Vet 2015; 166(3-4): 63-71.
28. Sherif Z, Pleyer U. Corticosteroids in ophthalmology: past-present-future. Ophthalmologica 2002; 216(5): 305-315.
29. Salman IA, Kiziltunç A, Baykal O. The effect of alkali burn on corneal glutathione peroxidase activities in rabbits. Turk J Med Sci 2011; 41(3): 483-486.
30. Hewitt JS, Allbaugh RA, Kenne DE, et al. Prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility of bacterial isolates from dogs with ulcerative keratitis in Midwestern United States. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7: 583965. doi: 10.3389/fvets. 2020.583965.
31. Anitua E, Muruzabal F, Tayebba A, et al. Autologous serum and plasma rich in growth factors in ophthalmology: preclinical and clinical studies. Acta Ophthalmol 2015; 93(8): e605-e614.
32. Watal A, Bashir M, Sharma A, et al. Management of corneal ulcer in dogs. Intas Polivet 2020; 21(1): 173-175.
33. Gadallah S, Misk TN, Ghaith A, et al. Compare the efficacy of corneal healing between AS and E-PRP treatment in dogs. J Curr Vet Res 2021; 3(1): 93-99.
34. Shahriari H, Tokhmehchi F, Reza M, et al. Comparison of the effect of amniotic membrane suspension and autologous serum on alkaline corneal epithelial wound healing in the rabbit model. Cornea 2008; 27(10): 1148-1150.
35. Rio-Cristobal A, Martin R. Corneal assessment technologies: current status. Surv Ophthalmol 2014; 59(6): 599-614.
Veterinary Research Forum
Volume 17, Issue 6
June 2026
Pages 415-421

  • Receive Date 12 August 2025
  • Revise Date 12 October 2025
  • Accept Date 15 November 2025

Home

Guide for Authors

Submit Manuscript

Reviewers

Contact Us