This small, retrospective study looked at 31 patients who had ocular graft-versus-host disease (oGVHD) following a stem cell transplant. These patients experienced corneal melting, a serious complication, and underwent a procedure called amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT).
The researchers found that 21 of the patients achieved corneal healing after the procedure. However, in 10 cases, the corneal melting returned within six months. The study also noted a link between the failure of the procedure and the presence of lung graft-versus-host disease, which was more common in the group where the melting recurred.
Because this was a small case series, the results are preliminary and not yet definitive. The findings suggest that while AMT can be a helpful tool for treating corneal melting, certain factors like lung involvement might affect how well the procedure works. Patients should discuss these findings and their specific risks with their eye specialists.