Abstract

ARAGONES CRUZ, Belmary  and  ALEMANY MARTORELL, Jaime. Comparative study of the use of mitomycin C in recurrent pterygium. Rev Cubana Oftalmol [online]. 2008, vol.21, n.2, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1561-3070.

INTRODUCTION: Pterygium is a problem in ophthalmology practice because of its high prevalence and frequency of recurrence. The objectives of this study was to compare the surgical technique of autologous conjuctival graft with limbal cells plus mitomycin C with that of amniotic membrane graft treated with mitomycin C in recurrent pterygium in terms of recurrence rates, immediate postoperative complications and recurrence-free time (months). METHODS: A prospective controlled clinical assay was carried out in 57 patients suffering recurrent pterygium. They were divided into two groups; the group 1 that had autologous conjuctival graft with limbal cells plus mitomycin C, and the group 2 with amminotic membrane graft plus mitomycin C. The used techniques were compared on the basis of their results. The follow-up period extended from one to six months. RESULTS: Visual acuity improved in 60 % of cases. Recurrence occurred in 2 % of cases in group 1 and 6 % in group 2. CONCLUSIONS: The conjunctival graft with limbal cells method was more effective for the recurrent pterygium treatment. The amniotic membrane method constitutes an alternative therapy for cases in which autologous graft is not applicable.

Keywords : Recurrent pterygium; amniotic membrane; conjuctival graft; mitomycin C.