PURPOSE: To report clinical and histochemical results of oral mucosa graft transplantation in eyes with limbal stem cell deficiency. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. METHODS: 32 eyes of 27 patients with limbal stem cell deficiency underwent direct oral mucosa graft transplantation with amniotic membrane transplantation with a mean follow-up of 19 months. Clinical course of the disease including emergency surgeries, planned curative procedures, conjunctival inflammation, acute inpatient treatment and best corrected visual acuity were assessed at 3 months postoperatively and at last follow up visit. The unneeded parts of oral mucosa graft were analyzed immunohistochemically with staining for mesenchymal stem cell markers and pericytes (CD 90, CD 146, CD 166, CD 31, CD 68, protein gene product).
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
27
change in number of acute surgeries
Time frame: baseline, 3 months after oral mucosa transplantation; through study completion, an average of 19 months
change in days of acute inpatient treatment
Time frame: baseline, 3 months after oral mucosa transplantation; through study completion, an average of 19 months
change in number of curative surgical procedures after oral mucosa transplantation
Time frame: baseline, 3 months after oral mucosa transplantation; through study completion, an average of 19 months
change in conjunctival inflammation
Time frame: baseline, 3 months after oral mucosa transplantation; through study completion, an average of 19 months
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