RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Clinical outcomes of xeno-free autologous cultivated limbal epithelial transplantation: a 10-year study
JF British Journal of Ophthalmology
JO Br J Ophthalmol
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.
SP 1525
OP 1529
DO 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2011-300352
VO 95
IS 11
A1 Virender S Sangwan
A1 Sayan Basu
A1 Geeta K Vemuganti
A1 Kunjal Sejpal
A1 Sandhya V Subramaniam
A1 Souvik Bandyopadhyay
A1 Sannapaneni Krishnaiah
A1 Subhash Gaddipati
A1 Shubha Tiwari
A1 Dorairajan Balasubramanian
YR 2011
UL http://bjo.bmj.com/content/95/11/1525.abstract
AB Purpose Ocular burns can damage the corneal epithelial stem cells located at the limbus. This study evaluated the efficacy of xeno-free autologous cell-based treatment of limbal stem cell deficiency.Methods This retrospective study included 200 patients, above 8 years of age, with clinically diagnosed unilateral total limbal stem cell deficiency due to ocular surface burns treated between 2001 and 2010. A small limbal biopsy was obtained from the unaffected eye. The limbal epithelial cells were expanded ex vivo on human amniotic membrane for 10–14 days using a xeno-free explant culture system. The resulting cultured epithelial monolayer and amniotic membrane substrate were transplanted on to the patient's affected eye. Postoperative corneal surface stability, visual improvement and complications were objectively analysed.Results A completely epithelised, avascular and clinically stable corneal surface was seen in 142 of 200 (71%) eyes at a mean follow-up of 3±1.6 (range: 1–7.6) years. A two-line improvement in visual acuity, without further surgical intervention, was seen in 60.5% of eyes. All donor eyes remained healthy.Conclusions Autologous cultivated limbal epithelial transplantation using a xeno-free explant culture technique was effective in long-term restoration of corneal epithelial stability and improvement of vision in eyes with ocular surface burns.