Multilayered amniotic membrane transplantation for severe ulceration of the cornea and sclera.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the efficacy of amniotic membrane transplantation in the treatment of deep corneal and scleral ulcers.


METHODS
A total of 11 patients were recruited for this study: four patients (four eyes) with corneal perforation, five patients (five eyes) with a deep corneal ulcer and descemetocele, and two patients (two eyes) with a scleral ulcer.


METHODS
Ulcers were treated by amniotic membrane transplantation. Separate amniotic membranes were transplanted as material to fill the stromal layer (amniotic membrane filling), as a basement membrane (amniotic membrane graft), and as a wound cover (amniotic membrane patch). After surgery, all cases were treated with artificial tears, autologous serum drops, antibiotic eyedrops, topical corticosteroids, and sodium hyaluronate eyedrops.


RESULTS
Eight eyes (72.7%) healed with epithelialization in 16.5 +/- 8.0 days (range, 7 to 29 days), with five and three eyes showing corneal epithelialization and conjunctival epithelialization, respectively. A persistent epithelial defect was noted in one eye with corneal ulcer after limbal allograft transplantation for a chemical burn and in two eyes with corneal ulcers as a complication of rheumatoid arthritis.


CONCLUSIONS
Multilayered amniotic membrane transplantation may be effective for the treatment of deep ulceration of the cornea and sclera. In some eyes with total corneal limbal dysfunction or autoimmune disorders, amniotic membrane transplantation alone is not effective.
Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Dental College, Chiba, Japan. hanada@asahikawa-med.ac.jp
K
K
Hanada
J
J
Shimazaki
S
S
Shimmura
K
K
Tsubota
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000650:Amnion / Q000637:transplantation*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001684:Biological Dressings; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D015422:Scleral Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014456:Ulcer / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid