Autologous transplantation of cultivated limbal epithelium

In this study the clinical outcome of ex vivo expansion of autologous limbal epithelial cells on intact amniotic membranes (AM) for ocular surface reconstruction in limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) was investigated. A total of 30 eyes in 28 patients (22 male and 6 female) with total (n=18) or partial (n=12) LSCD were treated by transplantation of autologous limbal epithelial cells after expansion on intact AM. The causes of LSCD in the patients were chemical and thermal burns (n=16), pterygium (n=9), tumor excision (n=2), perforating injury, mitomycin C-induced LSCD and epidermolysis bullosa (each n=1). Only eyes with a follow-up time of at least 9 months were included in the analysis. The main outcome criteria were restoration of ocular surface integrity and improvement of visual acuity (VA). The mean follow-up time was 28.9 +/- 15.5 months. An entirely stable corneal surface was reconstructed in 23 (76.7%) eyes. Visual acuity increased significantly in 21 (70%) eyes, was stable in 8 (26.7%) eyes and decreased in 1 (3.3%) eye. The mean visual acuity increased significantly (p < 0.0001) from a preoperative value of 1.58 +/- 0.97 LogMAR to 0.6 +/- 0.49 LogMAR. Transplantation of limbal epithelium cultivated on intact AM restores a stable corneal surface and results in a significant increase in visual acuity in most cases of LSCD. Autologous transplantation of cultivated limbal epithelium showed an excellent prognosis and outcome after long-term follow-up.