1 · Growth factors & blood derivatives
Umbilical cord blood serum (allogeneic)
Review — modulators of corneal healing › 1 · Growth factors & blood derivatives › Umbilical cord blood serum (allogeneic)
Umbilical cord blood serum (allogeneic)
Umbilical cord blood serum eye drops (UCBS) — allogeneic alternative to autologous serum
Oxford II–IV
Moderate
Present · niche
Mechanism of actionIdentical to autologous serum but richer in NGF, EGF, TGF-β and vitamin A — particularly suited to neurotrophic disease and when the patient's own serum cannot be used (infants, compromised systemic status).
IndicationsNeurotrophic PED, severe dry eye, chemical burns, pediatrics, neurotrophic keratopathy.
Route & dosageTopical, 20% dilution (up to 100%), 4–8×/day; frozen aliquots.
Level of evidenceOxford II–IV · Scale: Moderate. Comparative RCTs/cohorts (benefit ≥ autologous serum in several series).
| FDA | No — blood-derived product / HCT-P, individualized preparation. |
|---|---|
| EU MA | No — regulated under blood establishment framework, screened donor. |
| France | More restricted access than autologous serum (allogeneic, donor safety screening) — tertiary centers. |
| USA | Compounding / banking; limited use. |
| Asia | Developed and used notably in South Korea. |
Key studies: Vajpayee et al., Br J Ophthalmol 2003 — PMID 14609821; Yoon KC et al., 2005–2007 (autologous vs cord serum comparison), Am J Ophthalmol 2007 — PMID 17493572.
See also: Gabison E. “Corneal wound-healing agents”. In: SFO 2023 Report — Médicaments et biothérapies en ophtalmologie, chapter 21. Full text, open access (in French).