Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Amnion has many beneficent effects, including low antigen expression, promoting superficial epithelium restoration, relieving inflammation reaction, prohibiting fibrous tissue proliferation and neovascular formation. On corneal defects, amnion can provide an ideal basal membrane to quickly heal the wounds by epithelization.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the safety of fresh amniotic membrane transplantation for severe keratic ulcer, and evaluate its clinical efficacy.
METHODS: A total of 14 cases of clinical inpatients continuously on treatment were selected, including 6 cases (6 eyes) of secondary non-infective corneal ulcer and 8 cases (8 eyes) of primary infective corneal ulcer. The 6 eyes had been treated with fresh amniotic membrane transplantation, and 8 eyes with amnion transplantation combined with iodine tincture cauterization. The healing process of corneal ulcer, corneal transparency alterations and amniotic existing time were examined under slit-lamp microscope.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: No rejection reaction occurred in fresh amniotic implants. A total of 14 cases of severe corneal ulcer convalesced post-operatively and ulceration was restored. None of kerato-conjuntival epithelium progressively melted or perforated, with no improvement in visual acuity in all cases. During the follow up no ulcer relapsed or severe complications were found. Fresh amniotic membrane transplantation can effectively and securely treat severe keratic ulcer.