[Moderate limbal deficiency in patients with congenital aniridia treated with amniotic membrane transplantation].

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To study the ocular surface evolution by impression cytology and limbal biopsy in patients with congenital aniridia treated with amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT).

METHODS:

We studied 14 eyes of patients with congenital aniridia and moderate limbal deficiency that were treated with AMT. The morphology of the limbocorneal epithelium and stroma was examined by impression cytology and limbal biopsy. Impression cytology was performed prior to surgery and 3, 6, 9, 12 and 24 months after treatment. Limbal biopsy was performed before surgery and 9 months after AMT.

RESULTS:

Visual acuity showed a mean improvement of 0.3 at 24 months of follow-up. Corneal reepithelialization was completed by 2 months in all patients, however, after 9 months some patients showed persistent epithelial defects and chronic ulceration. Corneal clarity and peripheral neovascularization was markedly improved after 2 months. Impression cytology showed an improvement in squamous metaplasia at 3 and 6 months, however after nine months, until as late as 24 months, a progressive worsening was seen in epithelial cell metaplasia then being similar in extent to that before surgery. Limbal biopsy nine months after surgery showed a nearly normal epithelium and limbocorneal stroma.

CONCLUSIONS:

AMT is a very effective procedure, although its effect is transitory, for restoring the ocular surface integrity in patients with congenital aniridia and moderate limbal deficiency.

• Authors: J S López-García, L Rivas, I García-Lozano
• Journal: Archivos de la Sociedad Espanola de Oftalmologia (Arch Soc Esp Oftalmol) Vol. 80 Issue 9 Pg. 517-23 (Sep 2005) ISSN: 0365-6691 [Print] Spain
• Vernacular Title: Trasplante de membrana amniótica en el tratamiento de la insuficiencia limbal moderada de pacientes con aniridia congénita.
• PMID: 16193434 (Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Amnion (transplantation)
• Aniridia (pathology, surgery)
• Biopsy
• Corneal Diseases (pathology)
• Corneal Stroma (cytology)
• Cytological Techniques
• Epithelium, Corneal (cytology, pathology)
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Limbus Corneae (pathology)
• Metaplasia
• Middle Aged
• Time Factors
• Treatment Outcome
• Visual Acuity