Fresh amniotic membrane transplantation for conjunctival surface reconstruction.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether fresh human amniotic membrane can be used to reconstruct the conjunctival detect created during symblepharon lysis.


METHODS
Forty-two eyes of 39 consecutive patients with eye burns and Stevens-Johnson syndrome were randomized to accept fresh or preserved human amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) during the period of severe scarring. Impression cytology was performed in 12 eyes with normal tear secretion which received fresh AMT.


RESULTS
During a mean follow-up of 11 months (range, 6 to 18 months), thirty-five patients (37 eyes) showed successful ocular surface reconstruction and resolution of motility restriction while four patients (2 eyes with fresh AMT, 3 eye with preserved AMT) with minimal recurrence of symblepharon. There was no significant difference statistically between two groups (Chi-square test). Amniotic epithelial cells can survive about three months after being transplanted onto ocular surfaces with normal tear secretion.


CONCLUSIONS
Both fresh and preserved human amniotic membrane can be considered an ideal alternative substrate for conjunctival surface reconstruction during removal of severe symblepharon.
Zhou
S
S
Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510060, China.
Chen
J
J
Xu
L
L
Lin
J
J
Huang
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000650:Amnion / Q000637:transplantation*; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000601:surgery*; D005126:Eye Burns / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D013262:Stevens-Johnson Syndrome / Q000601:surgery