Amniotic Membrane Transplantation for Persistent Epithelial Defects With Ulceration

TLDR

The study evaluates preserved human amniotic membrane as an alternative treatment for persistent corneal epithelial defects with sterile ulceration. The authors performed amniotic membrane transplantation on 11 eyes of 11 consecutive patients with persistent corneal ulcers (mean duration 17.5 weeks). Ten of the 11 patients healed within 3.9 weeks on average, with no recurrence over 9 months, while one patient failed due to perforation, supporting amniotic membrane transplantation as a viable alternative to more invasive procedures.

Abstract

Purpose To determine whether preserved human amniotic membrane can be used as an alternative substrate for treating persistent corneal epithelial defects with sterile ulceration. Methods Amniotic membrane transplantation was performed in 11 eyes of 11 consecutive patients with corneal ulcers of different causes that had persisted for a mean ± SD of 17.5 ± 13.9 weeks. Results Ten patients healed in 3.9 ± 2.3 weeks (P < .01) without recurrence for 9.0 ±5.9 months. One patient failed to heal because of preexisting corneal perforation pursuant to severe rheumatoid arthritis. Conclusion Amniotic membrane transplantation may be considered an alternative method for treating persistent epithelial defects and sterile ulceration that are refractory to conventional treatment and before considering treatment by conjunctival flaps or tarsorrhaphy. To determine whether preserved human amniotic membrane can be used as an alternative substrate for treating persistent corneal epithelial defects with sterile ulceration. Amniotic membrane transplantation was performed in 11 eyes of 11 consecutive patients with corneal ulcers of different causes that had persisted for a mean ± SD of 17.5 ± 13.9 weeks. Ten patients healed in 3.9 ± 2.3 weeks (P < .01) without recurrence for 9.0 ±5.9 months. One patient failed to heal because of preexisting corneal perforation pursuant to severe rheumatoid arthritis. Amniotic membrane transplantation may be considered an alternative method for treating persistent epithelial defects and sterile ulceration that are refractory to conventional treatment and before considering treatment by conjunctival flaps or tarsorrhaphy.