Multi-layer amniotic membrane graft for pterygium in a patient with xeroderma pigmentosum

Background: Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a rare, autosomal recessive, prem alignant condition of the skin. and is reported to be associated with ocula r surface disorders such as conjunctival malignancy and pterygium. Herein, we report a case of successful management of pterygium with multi-layer amn iotic membrane graft (AMG) in a young XP patient. Case: An 11-year-old Japanese girl, who had been diagnosed as having XP, wa s referred to us for treatment of her bilateral pterygium. Surgical interve ntion was attempted for a temporal. presumably fast-growing pterygium in he r left eye. Multi-layer amniotic membrane grafting was performed. Observations: The surgery-induced pain and irritation disappeared within a day. The limbal conjunctival autograft survived on the AMG and re-epithelia lization over the AMG was completed in 2 weeks. Best corrected visual acuit y improved from 20/32 to 20/16 one month postoperatively. During the 1-year follow-up period, no recurrence was noted. Conclusions: The present case exemplifies that AMG as an adjunct to primary pterygium resection is effective even in a young patient with XP. In addit ion, multi-layer AMG, which we first demonstrated in this report, seems to be useful for protecting bare sclera and extraocular muscles from mechanica l injury. Jpn J Ophthalmol 2001;45:496-498 (C) 2001 Japanese Ophthalmologic al Society.