J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2005 Feb;46(2):243-249.

Living Related Conjunctival Limbal Allograft

• Park JH
• Kim JC

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the outcomes of living-related conjunctival limbal allograft for patients with bilateral total limbal stem cell deficiency. METHODS: Five eyes of 5 total limbal deficiency patients with severe conjunctivalization underwent living-related conjunctival limbal allograft. Limbal conjunctival tissues from ABO typing-matched relative donors were transplanted to the recipient eyes superiorly and inferiorly after excision of fibrovascular pannus. Systemic cyclosporine was administered to all recipients for a short period of mean 2.4 months. RESULTS: Satisfactory ocular surface stability was achieved in all 5 eyes (100%), with visual improvement and reduction of corneal opacification and neovascularization. Reepithelization occurred in four eyes (80%). Graft rejection did not develop. None of the donor eyes had any complication. CONCLUSIONS: Allograft conjunctival limbal transplantation from ABO typing-matched relative donor may be a viable means of ocular surface reconstruction in bilateral recalcitrant ocular surface disease caused by total limbal stem cell deficiency. Furthermore, this surgical approach has the advantage of reducing the duration of postoperative immunosuppression.

Keyword

Limbal allograft; Living relative donor; Stem cell deficiency

MeSH Terms

Allografts*
Cyclosporine
Graft Rejection
Humans
Immunosuppression
Stem Cells
Tissue Donors
Cyclosporine