PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Nakamura, T AU - Inatomi, T AU - Sotozono, C AU - Amemiya, T AU - Kanamura, N AU - Kinoshita, S TI - Transplantation of cultivated autologous oral mucosal epithelial cells in patients with severe ocular surface disorders AID - 10.1136/bjo.2003.038497 DP - 2004 Oct 01 TA - British Journal of Ophthalmology PG - 1280--1284 VI - 88 IP - 10 4099 - http://bjo.bmj.com/content/88/10/1280.short 4100 - http://bjo.bmj.com/content/88/10/1280.full SO - Br J Ophthalmol2004 Oct 01; 88 AB - Background/aims: To determine outcomes of transplants of cultivated autologous oral epithelial cells in patients with severe ocular surface disorders. Methods: The eyes (nā€Š=ā€Š6) of four patients with Stevens-Johnson syndrome (three eyes) or chemical burns (three eyes) were studied. Autologous oral epithelial cells, grown for 2ā€“3 weeks on a denuded amniotic membrane carrier in the presence of 3T3 fibroblasts, were air lifted. The resultant sheet was transplanted onto the damaged eye, and acceptance of the sheet by the corneal surface was confirmed 48 hours after surgery. The success of ocular surface reconstruction, graft survival, changes in visual acuity, and postoperative complications were assessed and the quality of the cultivated oral epithelial sheet was evaluated histologically. Results: At 48 hours after transplant, the entire corneal surface of all six eyes was free of epithelial defects indicating complete survival of the transplanted oral epithelium. Visual acuity was improved in all eyes. During follow up (mean 13.8 (SD 2.9) months), the corneal surface remained stable, although all eyes manifested mild peripheral neovascularisation. Conclusions: Autologous oral epithelial cells grown on denuded amniotic membrane can be transplanted to treat severe ocular surface disorders.