Relapsing Mooren's ulcer after amniotic membrane transplantation combined with conjunctival autografting

Abstract

Purpose: To report a patient with Mooren's ulcer that relapsed 2 months after amniotic membrane (AM) transplantation and conjunctival autografting and its subsequent retreatment.

Design: Interventional case report.

Methods: We performed multilayered AM transplantation and conjunctival autografting from the opposite healthy eye to treat a corneoscleral perforation caused by Mooren's ulcer in a 60-year-old woman.

Main outcome measures: Reformation of the anterior chamber, absence of inflammation, and restoration of visual acuity.

Results: The perforated corneoscleral lesion was sealed successfully by the AM and conjunctiva graft and led to a stable condition for 2 months. Relapsing corneal edema, keratic precipitates, and cell infiltration occurred along the margin of the conjunctival graft with severe vessel engorgement. After removing the conjunctival graft and regrafting of additional AM, the lesion subsided for at least 1 year.

Conclusions: Amniotic membrane transplants may be useful in treating corneal perforation of immunologic origin, but conjunctiva and its vessels may play a role in the process of peripheral corneal destruction of Mooren's ulcer.