HUMAN PHOTORECEPTOR TRANSPLANTATION IN RETINITIS-PIGMENTOSA - A SAFETY STUDY

Objective: To establish the technical feasibility and safety of photor eceptor transplantation in retinitis pigmentosa. Methods: A sheet of h uman photoreceptor cells was harvested from 2 human cadaveric eyes wit h a vibratome and transplanted into the subretinal spaces of 2 patient s with advanced retinitis pigmentosa and visual acuity of no light per ception by means of submacular surgery techniques. Preoperative and po stoperative electrophysiologic testing, fundus photography, fluorescei n angiography, and scanning laser ophthalmoscopy were performed. Resul ts: Twelve months after photoreceptor transplantation, the visual acui ty of each patient remained no light perception. The temporal edge of the retinotomy in I patient was folded but was not associated with a r etinal detachment. The patients were not immunosuppressed, and there w as no evidence of rejection of the allogeneic transplant. Cystoid macu lar edema, uveitis, and. macular pucker were not observed. Conclusion: A sheet of adult human photoreceptor cells can be harvested from huma n cadaveric eyes and safely transplanted to the subretinal spaces of p atients with retinitis pigmentosa without systemic immunosuppression.