Auto iris pigment epithelial cell transplantation in patients with age-related macular degeneration: Short-term results

Autologous iris pigment epithelial cell transplantation mas performed on pa tients with exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Autologous IP E cell culture mas performed using autologous serum after iridectomy in 7 p atients with AMD. The cell suspensions (2 similar to 20 x 10(4) cells) mere transplanted into the submacular lesion of individuals after removal of ne ovascular membranes. Subsequent ophthalmological examinations, including be st corrected visual acuity and fluorescein or indocyanine green angiography , were performed. In addition, 15 patients with AMD, who underwent removal of neovascular membrane without transplantation, mere evaluated as non rand omized controls. Varying degrees of atrophy or defects of choriocapillaris and retinal pigment epithelium mere observed in all of the patients. No cys toid macular edema or fluorescein leakage was observed after treatment, but window defects mere present. No patient had decreased visual acuity. One t reated patient developed mild subretinal fibrosis and an other patient deve loped mild preretinal fibrosis, however no difference was significant when compared with the control. In coclusion, the treatment resulted in no signi ficant improvement in macular function, as compared with the control; howev er, no rejection or deterioration in visual acuity occurred up to the 13 mo nth follow up. (C) 2000 Tohoku University Medical Press.