title: Long-term effectiveness of autologous cultured limbal stem cell grafts in patients with limbal stem cell deficiency due to chemical burns.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chemical burns cause depletion of limbal stem cells and eventually lead to corneal opacity and visual loss. We investigated the long-term effectiveness of autologous cultured limbal stem cell grafts in patients with limbal stem cell deficiency.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, non-comparative interventional case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen eyes from 16 patients with severe, unilateral limbal stem cell deficiency caused by chemical burns.
  
  
  METHODS
  Autologous ex vivo cultured limbal stem cells were grafted onto the recipient eye after superficial keratectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical parameters of limbal stem cell deficiency (stability/transparency of the corneal epithelium, superficial corneal vascularization and pain/photophobia), visual acuity, cytokeratin expression on impression cytology specimens and histology on excised corneal buttons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 12 months post-surgery, evaluation of the 16 patients showed that 10 (62.6%) experienced complete restoration of a stable and clear epithelium and 3 (18.7%) had partially successful outcomes (re-appearance of conjunctiva in some sectors of the cornea and instable corneal surface). Graft failure (no change in corneal surface conditions) was seen in three (18.7%) patients. Penetrating keratoplasty was performed in seven patients, with visual acuity improving up to 0.8 (best result). For two patients, regeneration of the corneal epithelium was confirmed by molecular marker (p63, cytokeratin 3, 12 and 19, mucin 1) analysis. Follow-up times ranged from 12 to 50 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Grafts of autologous limbal stem cells cultured onto fibrin glue discs can successfully regenerate the corneal epithelium in patients with limbal stem cell deficiency, allowing to perform successful cornea transplantation and restore vision.
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Neurological, Neuropsychological, Morphological and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marchini
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pedrotti
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pedrotti
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Barbaro
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Di Iorio
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bertolin
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Mattia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Passilongo
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fasolo
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ponzin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000637:transplantation; D005126:Eye Burns / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating; D016850:Limbus Corneae / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult