摘要
AIM:To evaluate the role of bone marrow-derived stem cells in the treatment of advanced dry age-related macular degeneration(AMD)using multifocal electroretinogram(mf-ERG)and fundus autofluorescence imaging.METHODS:Thirty patients(60 eyes)with bilateral central geographic atrophy(GA)were recruited.Worse eye of each patient received autologous bone marrow-derived hematopoietic stem cells(BM-HSCs)(group 1)and the fellow eye with better visual acuity served as control(group2).The effect of stem cell therapy was determined in terms of visual acuity,amplitude and implicit time in mf-ERG and size of GA on fundus autofluorescence imaging.These tests were performed at presentation and first,third and sixth month follow up.Adverse events(if any)were also monitored.RESULTS:At 6mo follow-up there was no statistically significant improvement in median log MAR best corrected visual acuity(BCVA)in either group.Mf-ERG revealed significant improvement in amplitude and implicit time in the intervention group.A significant decrease was also noted in greatest linear dimension(GLD)of GA in the eyes receiving stem cells[6.78±2.60 mm at baseline to 6.56±2.59 mm at 6mo(P=0.021)].However,no such improvement was noted in the control group.CONCLUSION:Electrophysiological and anatomical improvement in the intervention group sheds light on the therapeutic role of BM-HSCs.Further studies are required to determine the stage of disease at which the maximal benefit can be achieved and to standardize the dose andfrequency of stem cell injection.
AIM:To evaluate the role of bone marrow-derived stem cells in the treatment of advanced dry age-related macular degeneration(AMD)using multifocal electroretinogram(mf-ERG)and fundus autofluorescence imaging.METHODS:Thirty patients(60 eyes)with bilateral central geographic atrophy(GA)were recruited.Worse eye of each patient received autologous bone marrow-derived hematopoietic stem cells(BM-HSCs)(group 1)and the fellow eye with better visual acuity served as control(group2).The effect of stem cell therapy was determined in terms of visual acuity,amplitude and implicit time in mf-ERG and size of GA on fundus autofluorescence imaging.These tests were performed at presentation and first,third and sixth month follow up.Adverse events(if any)were also monitored.RESULTS:At 6mo follow-up there was no statistically significant improvement in median log MAR best corrected visual acuity(BCVA)in either group.Mf-ERG revealed significant improvement in amplitude and implicit time in the intervention group.A significant decrease was also noted in greatest linear dimension(GLD)of GA in the eyes receiving stem cells[6.78±2.60 mm at baseline to 6.56±2.59 mm at 6mo(P=0.021)].However,no such improvement was noted in the control group.CONCLUSION:Electrophysiological and anatomical improvement in the intervention group sheds light on the therapeutic role of BM-HSCs.Further studies are required to determine the stage of disease at which the maximal benefit can be achieved and to standardize the dose andfrequency of stem cell injection.