title: Amniotic membrane transplantation in the human eye.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) has a long tradition in ophthalmic surgery and has become very popular recently because of newly developed methods of tissue preservation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We selectively review the literature on recent developments, mechanisms of action, and established indications of AMT in the treatment of various diseases of the ocular surface. We searched the PubMed database for articles that appeared from 1994 to 2009 with the key words "amniotic membrane," "cornea," and/or "conjunctiva."
  
  
  RESULTS
  Amniotic membrane (AM) can function in the eye as a basement membrane substitute or as a temporary graft. It has anti-inflammatory and anti-scarring effects and contains growth factors that promote epithelial wound healing on the surface of the eye. AMT has been found to be a good alternative for corneal and conjunctival reconstruction in many clinical situations, including acute burns, persistent epithelial defects of the cornea, and diseases that cause conjunctival scarring. Nonetheless, there have been no more than a few randomized and controlled trials of AMT to date. Other studies have shown that AM can serve as a culture substrate to expand epithelial progenitor cells for use in ocular surface reconstruction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AMT is an established technique in the treatment of various diseases of the external eye. In the last few years, AMT has brought about major advances in the reconstructive surgery of the ocular surface.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Erkrankungen des vorderen Augenabschnitts, Zentrum für Augenheilkunde, Universität Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45122 Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Meller
authors.forename: Mikk
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pauklin
authors.forename: Henning
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thomasen
authors.forename: Henrike
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Westekemper
authors.forename: Klaus-Peter
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Steuhl
mesh_terms: D000650:Amnion / Q000601:surgery* / Q000637:transplantation*; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000639:trends*; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D009926:Organ Preservation / Q000639:trends*; D016896:Treatment Outcome