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Epithelial transplantation shows efficacy in limbal stem cell-deficient eyes
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Performing cultivated limbal epithelial transplantation can be an effective approach for treating limbal stem cell deficiency by restoring a feasible ocular surface microenvironment, according to a study by researchers in Japan.
Motoko Kawashima, MD, and colleagues analyzed the epithelia of six patients with limbal stem cell deficiencies before and after performing cultivated limbal epithelial transplantation (CLET) and subsequent keratoplasty. The limbal cell deficiencies resulted from alkali burns in three patients, from Stevens-Johnson syndrome in two and from pseudo-ocular cicatricial pemphigoid in one, according to the study.
Surgeons performed the secondary keratoplasty procedures an average of 6.8 months after performing CLET.
Investigators found that visual acuity improved by more than two lines and neovascularization decreased over 25.1 months mean follow-up, the authors reported.
In addition, phenotypic analyses performed on specimens obtained during the CLET and keratoplasty procedures showed that epithelia were positive for cytokeratin 13 and Mucin 5 subtype AC, but negative for cytokeratin 3, according to the study.
Before CLET, the stromal cells of all patients were positive for alpha smooth muscle actin. After CLET, four eyes tested positive for cytokeratin 3, but negative for cytokeratin 13 and MUC5AC.
Additionally, the researchers observed no alpha smooth muscle actin-positive cells after CLET, according to the study, published in the October issue of Archives of Ophthalmology.