AIM: To observe the effectiveness and safety of auto-corneallimbus stem cell transplantation combined double biological amniotic membrane transplantation in the treatment of pterygium

METHODS: The patients performed pterygium surgeries in our hospital between 2010-06 and 2013-12 were selected, according to different pterygium classification grading, different surgical methods were taken. Group A: autologous corneal limbus stem cell transplantation was conducted. Group B: autologous corneal limbus stem cell transplantation combined double biological amniotic membrane transplantation were conducted. The patients were followed up 6-36mo after operation, the postoperative recurrence rate was observed.

RESULTS: A total of 149 cases with 155 eyes included in this study, including 75 eyes in group A with the application of autologous limbal stem cell transplantation: thin type grade 2, 10 eyes(1 eye recurred), grade 3, 14 eyes(2 eyes recurred); Hypertrophic 17 eyes(2 eyes recurred); Recurrence type 21 eyes(3 eyes recurred); Recovered 68 eyes(8 eyes recurred, the total recurrence rate was 10.67%); Group B: 80 eyes treated with autologous limbal stem cell transplantation combined double biological amniotic membrane transplantation, thin type above grade 3 and grade 4(no recurrence); Hypertrophic 21 eyes(1 eye recurred); Recurrence type 37 eyes(2 eyes recurred); Recovered 77 eyes(3 eyes recurred, the recurrence rate was 3.75%). Two groups of hypertrophic type, recurrence is significant in reducing the recurrence rate(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: It indicates that recurrence rates are different when adopting different ways of operations.Autologous corneal limbus stem cell transplantation is applicable for no root type, pterygium of thin type below grade 2; Autologous corneal limbus stem cell transplantation with double biological amniotic membrane transplantation is suitable for thin type above grade 2, hypertrophic type, recurrent type of pterygium, with low recurrence rate, so it is the ideal surgical method.