Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42053663›Full record

SynthesisInternational ophthalmology2026

The Efficacy and Safety of Recombinant Human Nerve Growth Factor (rhNGF) in Patients With Dry Eye Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Mohammed F Qutub, Talal S Alajmi, Ahmed N Alnabihi, Anas Alamoudi, Salma H Almarwani, Suzan E Ageel, Baraa S Tabbakh, Lama N Alghamdi

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in International ophthalmology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Mohammed F QutubDepartment of Ophthalmology, Ministry of the National Guard-Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Talal S AlajmiKing Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. talalajmiuni@gmail.com.
Ahmed N AlnabihiKing Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Anas AlamoudiDepartment of Ophthalmology, Jeddah Eye Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Salma H AlmarwaniKing Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Suzan E AgeelKing Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Baraa S TabbakhKing Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Lama N AlghamdiKing Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial condition affecting the ocular surface. Recombinant human nerve growth factor (rhNGF) has emerged as a potential new treatment for neurosensory dysfunction. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rhNGF in patients with DED.

methodsA comprehensive search of six online databases-Medline, CENTRAL, Web of Science, Ovid Medline, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Google Scholar-was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy and safety of rhNGF in patients with dry eye disease, focusing on outcomes such as tear production, ocular surface integrity, and adverse events.

resultsThe results demonstrated that rhNGF significantly improved tear production compared with placebo, as measured by the Schirmer test (MD = 3.84; 95% CI: 2.17-5.51; P < 0.00001; I

conclusionrhNGF shows promise for improving tear production in patients with dry eye disease, as demonstrated by significant improvement in Schirmer test results. However, evidence for broader clinical efficacy remains limited, with other outcomes showing non-significant or heterogeneous findings. Current data are based on a small number of trials, indicating the need for larger, well-designed studies to clarify the therapeutic role and safety profile of rhNGF in dry eye disease.

Indexed as

Dry Eye SyndromesNerve Growth FactorTearsHumansOphthalmic SolutionsRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicRecombinant ProteinsTreatment OutcomeNerve Growth FactorOphthalmic SolutionsRecombinant ProteinsCenegerminDry eye diseaseKeratoconjunctivitis siccaOxervateRhNGF

Identifiers

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.