Amniotic Membrane Use in Sjogren's Treatment

The 78-year-old is one of only two Australians to undergo radical surgery in which membranes from human placentas are used to reline the eye, to provide moisture lost from severe damage or auto-immune diseases such as diabetes, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.............Studies have shown that amniotic membranes, taken from women having caesarean sections, promote the growth of epithelial cells on the surface of the cornea and contain properties that reduce pain, suppress fibrosis, and are antibacterial and wound-protecting............An ophthalmologist at the Sydney Eye Hospital, Dr John Males, said dry eyes from Sjogren's Syndrome were notoriously challenging to treat.

CONCLUSIONS. The basement membrane of amniotic membrane resembles that of corneal epithelium but not conjunctiva. Amniotic membrane may be an excellent substrate for corneal epithelial cells.