Chonnam Med J.  2009 Apr;45(1):55-59. 10.4068/cmj.2009.45.1.55.

Efficacy of Amniotic Membrane Transplantation on Corneal Graft Rejection with Epithelial Defects after Penetrating Keratoplasty

• Kang IS
• Kim YH
• Song TB
• Cho JK
• Park YG
• Yoon KC

• KMID: 2172284
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4068/cmj.2009.45.1.55

Abstract

We report the therapeutic effect of amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) on corneal graft rejection with epithelial defects after penetrating keratoplasty (PKP). Twelve patients (12 eyes) who had epithelial and subepithelial graft rejection received human AMT, and they were compared with other 12 patients (12 eyes) who were treated with medication only. There were no differences in age, sex, time to rejection after PKP, and epithelial defect area between two groups. Time to epithelial healing and time to disappearance of rejection sign were significantly shorter in the AMT group (11.8+/-4.9 days and 15.5+/-6.3 days) than in the medical treatment group (19.0+/-3.7 days and 20.8+/-3.4 days)(p=0.01, p=0.02). AMT is effective in promoting epithelialization and improving inflammation of epithelial rejection after penetrating keratoplasty.

Keyword

Amniotic membrane transplantation; Graft rejection; Keratoplasty, Penetrating

MeSH Terms

Amnion
Graft Rejection
Humans
Inflammation
Keratoplasty, Penetrating
Rejection (Psychology)
Transplants

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Comparison of time to epithelial healing and time to disappearance of rejection sign between the amniotic membrane transplanted group and the medical treatment group.

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  Fig. 2 Preoperative slit-lamp photograph demonstrated epithelial graft rejection showing large epithelial defect and subepithelial infiltration (A). Amniotic membrane was transplanted over the ocular surface (B). Eleven days after operation, the lesion healed with clear cornea (C).

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