Amniotic Membrane Transplantation for the Treatment of Pseudomonas Keratitis in Experimental Rabbits

Amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) has been considered in combination with medical treatment in progressive infective keratitis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of AMT as an adjunctive treatment in the management of experimental pseudomonas keratitis. Cryopreserved AMT was performed on 12 pseudomonas rabbit corneal ulcers. After one week in one group amniotic membrane transplantation combined Poostchi Eye Research Center with topical medical treatment was done (AMT group). At the end of the second week, the clinical and pathological findings were compared with those obtained from eight corneal ulcers in another group which had only been treated with topical medication (control group). There was not any significant difference in clinical signs between the two groups at the end of the second week. Corneal perforation was found in three cases of the control group but in none of the cases in the AMT group. Amniotic membranes were melted in four eyes, retracted in three eyes and intact in five eyes. Pathologic examination showed no significant difference in cellular infiltration or density of organism between the two groups. AMT is effective in preventing corneal perforation in the early stage of experimental pseudomonas keratitis.