[Amniotic membrane transplantation associated with conjunctival autograft for primary pterygium treatment].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of amniotic membrane transplantation associated with conjunctival autograft in primary pterygium treatment.


METHODS
We have analyzed, prospectively, 26 patients (14 women and 12 men), from 20 to 60 years old, examined at the Evangelic Hospital Ophthalmology Outpatient Clinic. They were submitted to primary pterygium treatment with pterygium excision surgery, amniotic membrane transplantation and conjunctival autograft, from April to November, 2001. The evaluated aspects were: degree of pterygium, postoperative complications and recurrence.


RESULTS
Four cases (15.38%) showed complications, none of them considered serious, conjunctival graft contraction in 2 cases being the most frequent. After a follow-up of 6 months, 24 patients (92.3%) had a successful result and 2 patients (7.69%) had corneal or conjunctival recurrence. Among the patients with complications 50% presented pterygium recurrence (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
It is a safe surgical procedure with a low degree of recurrence rate. Complications are associated with a greater chance of relapse. This procedure is also an option in cases where there is not sufficient conjunctiva to cover all excised area.
Castellano
Alessandra Guerra Daros
AG
Serviço de Oftalmologia, Hospital Universitário Evangélico de Curitiba, Curitiba, PR. alegdcastellano@hotmail.com
Malfatti
Fernando Antonio
FA
Zago
Rommel Josué
RJ
Carvalho
Ana Cristina Alvarez
AC
Reichmann
Rafael Potrich
RP
Moreira
Hamilton
H
D000328:Adult; D000650:Amnion / Q000637:transplantation*; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000637:transplantation*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011625:Pterygium / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome