[Initial clinical observation of tissue-engineered epithelium transplantation for treating corneal conjunctivalization caused by burn].
OBJECTIVE
To study the therapeutic results of tissue-engineered epithelium transplantation for corneal conjunctivalization caused by chemical and thermal burns.


METHODS
Clinical case series. From December 2007 to May 2008, in Beijing Tongren Eye Center and Beijing Tongren Hospital, six patients (6 eyes) with chemical or thermal burn injury were treated by auto-transplantation of limbus stem cells cultured on fibrin gel membrane and followed up 6 to 12 months for clinical evaluation. The clinical outcomes included visual acuity, corneal clarity and neovascularization.


RESULTS
In 5 of 6 eyes, the postoperative visual acuity was slightly improved. During followed up period, the corneal new-forming vessels were lessen than before, but one eye showed neovascularization recurrent. The corneal clarity in 5 eyes was improved. 4 eyes were covered with transparent epithelium, 2 eyes showed light corneal opacity.


CONCLUSIONS
The ocular surface condition of corneal conjunctivalization caused by corneal burn could be improved in short period by tissue-engineered epithelium transplantation.
Luo
Fei
F
Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Science Key Laboratory, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100730, China.
Zou
Liu-he
LH
Pan
Zhi-qiang
ZQ
Han
Bin
B
D000328:Adult; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology*; D065306:Corneal Injuries; D016510:Corneal Neovascularization / Q000517:prevention & control; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000637:transplantation*; D005126:Eye Burns / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult