AIMS: The aim of this work was to investigate different surgical options for the repair of the ocular surface, using various extensions of the procedure of limbal stem cell allotransplantation. METHODS/ RESULTS: Straightforward lamellar limbal transplantation was performed in one patient with contact lens induced limbal stem cell failure. A second patient with a neoplastic corneal lesion underwent limbal allotransplantation, followed later by a second procedure in which 360 degrees of limbus and the entire ocular surface was transplanted. A third patient who had suffered extensive chemical burns was treated by penetrating keratoplasty to restore central corneal clarity, followed later by a lamellar allograft comprising a 360 degrees annulus of peripheral cornea to repair the ocular surface. A fourth patient with long standing, chronic trachomatous eye disease underwent allotransplantation of the upper lid tarsal plate and conjunctiva, with reconstruction of the fornix. Finally, a child with Goldenhar's syndrome underwent reconstruction of the medial fornix with autologous buccal mucosa, followed by a lamellar corneal and conjunctival allograft. A stable ocular surface has been achieved in each case and there have been no obvious rejection episodes. CONCLUSION: Limbal allotransplantation can be extended to engraftment of the entire superficial cornea, limbus, conjunctiva, and tarsal plate in patients with a range of pathologies. We have described the surgical management of five cases which demonstrate the potential of the technique, but which raise questions which still need to be explored.
AIMS: The aim of this work was to investigate different surgical options for the repair of the ocular surface, using various extensions of the procedure of limbal stem cell allotransplantation. METHODS/ RESULTS: Straightforward lamellar limbal transplantation was performed in one patient with contact lens induced limbal stem cell failure. A second patient with a neoplastic corneal lesion underwent limbal allotransplantation, followed later by a second procedure in which 360 degrees of limbus and the entire ocular surface was transplanted. A third patient who had suffered extensive chemical burns was treated by penetrating keratoplasty to restore central corneal clarity, followed later by a lamellar allograft comprising a 360 degrees annulus of peripheral cornea to repair the ocular surface. A fourth patient with long standing, chronic trachomatous eye disease underwent allotransplantation of the upper lid tarsal plate and conjunctiva, with reconstruction of the fornix. Finally, a child with Goldenhar's syndrome underwent reconstruction of the medial fornix with autologous buccal mucosa, followed by a lamellar corneal and conjunctival allograft. A stable ocular surface has been achieved in each case and there have been no obvious rejection episodes. CONCLUSION: Limbal allotransplantation can be extended to engraftment of the entire superficial cornea, limbus, conjunctiva, and tarsal plate in patients with a range of pathologies. We have described the surgical management of five cases which demonstrate the potential of the technique, but which raise questions which still need to be explored.
Authors: Xiaoman Xu; Jaana Mannik; Elena Kudryavtseva; Kevin K Lin; Lisa A Flanagan; Joel Spencer; Amelia Soto; Ning Wang; Zhongxian Lu; Zhengquan Yu; Edwin S Monuki; Bogi Andersen Journal: Dev Biol Date: 2007-10-05 Impact factor: 3.582