[First experience with amniotic membrane transplantation].
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this retrospective study was to analyze the outcome of amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) performed at the University Eye Clinic Bern during the last 12 months.


METHODS
Nine men (62.4 +/- 16.7 yrs.) and four women (78.3 +/- 22.3 yrs.) were treated with an AMT and grouped according to the ophthalmologic diagnosis: Group A, chronic corneal surface defect without limbal stem cell deficiency (n = 8); Group B, conjunctival fornix reconstruction (n = 7); Group C, filtering bleb defect (n = 2).


RESULTS
11/17 (65 %) AMT's performed in 14 eyes of 13 patients showed a favorable postoperative result after a mean follow-up time of 8.7 (+/- 2.9) months. In Group A (chronic corneal surface defect) 4/8, in Group B (conjunctival fornix defect) 7/7 and in Group C (filtering bleb defect) 0/2 showed an improvement of the basic ocular problem. 4/8 patients from Group A and 7/7 patients of Group B showed postoperatively a strong reduction of the ocular inflammation.


CONCLUSIONS
In the present small study, favorable results were achieved in patients with chronic corneal surface defects without limbal stem cell deficiency and conjunctival fornix defects following AMT. In patients with fornix defects, the AMT seemed to be a valuable alternative to the more complicated transplantation of mouth- or nose mucous membrane. The two eyes with filtering defects failed.
Trittibach
P
P
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Bern, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland. peter.trittibach@insel.ch
Goldblum
D
D
Frueh
B E
BE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000650:Amnion / Q000637:transplantation*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003229:Conjunctival Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D016332:Fetal Tissue Transplantation; D018463:Filtering Surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies