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Updated: Jun 1, 2026
Regenerative Therapy by Suprachoroidal Cell Autograft in Dry Age-related Macular Degeneration: Preliminary In Vivo Report
Published on: February 12, 2018
[Outcome of conjunctival autograft with amniotic membrane transplantation for recurrent pterygium]
Atsuko Tanaka1, Tai-ichiro Chikama, Daisuke Harada
1Tokuyama Central Hospital, Japan.
Purpose:
To investigate the outcome of conjunctival autograft with amniotic membrane transplantation without the use of mitomycin C for cases of recurrent pterygium.
Cases And Methods:
Thirty-nine eyes of 35 patients (aged 27 to 76 years) who underwent the surgical procedure for recurrent pterygium at Yamaguchi University Hospital from November 1998 to July 2007 were evaluated retrospectively from their medical records. Patients who did not undergo postoperative follow-up examination for at least 6 months were excluded. The mean number of prior surgeries was 2.9 (range, 2 to 10), and the mean +/- SD follow-up time was 42.0 +/- 29.6 months.
Results:
Twenty seven of 29 eyes (93.1%) with recurrent grade 3 pterygium showed a reduction in the size of the new growth after surgery. The symblepharon improved postoperatively in 5 of 15 eyes (33.3%) and restriction of ocular movement improved in 11 of 24 eyes (45.8%). Most recurrences occurred within 6 months after surgery, although one case did not show a recurrence until 2 years postsurgery.
Conclusion:
Conjunctival autograft with amniotic membrane transplantation without the use of mitomycin C reduced the size of the recurrent pterygium. However, 6 of the 16 eyes (37.5%) required subsequent surgery, suggesting that the procedure has limitations. Mitomycin C should therefore possibly be considered for cases with severe symblepharon or restriction of ocular movement. In choosing the surgical procedure for recurrent pterygium, diplopia can be an important indicator of the severity of a symblepharon or restriction of ocular movement.
Insights
Conjunctival autograft with amniotic membrane transplantation effectively reduced recurrent pterygium size. However, some patients required further surgery, indicating limitations for severe cases.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Regenerative Medicine
Context:
- Recurrent pterygium poses a significant challenge in ophthalmic surgery.
- Previous surgical interventions often lead to recurrence, necessitating advanced treatment strategies.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the efficacy of conjunctival autograft combined with amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) for recurrent pterygium.
- To assess the outcomes without the adjunctive use of mitomycin C.
Summary:
- The study retrospectively analyzed 39 eyes with recurrent pterygium treated with conjunctival autograft and AMT.
- A high success rate (93.1%) was observed in reducing pterygium size for grade 3 cases.
- Improvements in symblepharon and ocular motility were noted, though not universal.
Impact:
- Conjunctival autograft with AMT shows promise in managing recurrent pterygium, reducing lesion size.
- The procedure has limitations, with a notable rate of subsequent surgeries required.
- Consideration of mitomycin C may be beneficial for severe symblepharon or ocular movement restriction.
