The use of amniotic membrane in trabeculectomy for the treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma: a prospective study

Abstract

Background

To investigate the effectiveness of amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) on improving the outcomes of trabeculectomy in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).

Methods

Fifty-nine eyes affected by primary open-angle glaucoma were enrolled in this prospective randomized study. Thirty-two eyes underwent amnion-shielded trabeculectomy (study group) and 27 eyes underwent trabeculectomy without any antimetabolites (control group). Success was defined as intraocular pressure (IOP) <21 mmHg without any medications at 24 months follow-up. The two groups were compared in terms of IOP, bleb morphology, bleb survival and risk of failure, glaucoma medications, and complications.

Results

There was no statistically significant difference in terms of postoperative IOP between the two groups and at 24 months median IOP was 15.5 mmHg for the AMT group and 16 mmHg for the control group. IOP postoperative reduction was 8 mmHg for the AMT group versus 6 mmHg for the non AMT group (P = 0.276). Two patients from the study group developed IOP >21 mmHg in contrast to seven patients from the classic trabeculectomy group. The study group had 61.0% less risk of developing IOP >21 mmHg (P = 0.203). No major complications in the AMT group were observed. AMT blebs were diffuse with mild vascularization.

Conclusion

In patients with POAG, AMT showed favorable effects on bleb survival, however data failed to provide firm evidence that AMT could be used as a routine procedure in trabeculectomy.

Introduction

Fibrosis and scarring occurring at the subconjunctival space is the main reason for failure of the most established glaucoma filtration surgery (GFS).¹ The introduction and widespread use of antiproliferative agents affecting fibroblast proliferation² and apoptosis³ such as MM-C^4–7 and 5-FU^8–10 have improved surgical outcomes; nevertheless, their well-known complications mean that safer alternatives for fibrosis control are still needed.^11–14 There are several events in the healing process that can potentially be modified such as: inflammation; fibrin formation; growth factors and cytokines; cellular proliferation; differentiation, apoptosis and migration; wound contraction; and angiogenesis.¹⁵ Several older and newer agents have been tested in vitro and in vivo such as cyclosporine, tranilast (N-[3′,4′]-dimethoxycinnamol) anthranilic acid,¹⁵ suramin,¹⁶ ilomastat,¹⁷ Lerdelimumab Trabio CAT-152¹⁸ and many others¹⁹ but none of them have yet entered clinical practice.

Moreover, it is known that fibroblast proliferation and differentiation to myofibroblasts following surgical trauma at the site of trabeculectomy is promoted by tranforming growth factor β (TGF β), and in particular the isoform TGF β2 is one of the most potent scarring stimulators in the eye.^20–22 Production of extracellular matrix by the activated fibroblasts leads to the formation of subconjunctival granular tissue²³ followed by obstruction of the filtration site,^24,25 hence targeting TGF-β appears promising in reducing postoperative fibrosis.

Human amniotic membrane, known for its antifibrotic, anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic properties, suppresses transforming growth factor β (TGF β)²⁶ and has been tested as an adjuvant in high-risk GFS,^27,28 as a substrate for the repair of leaking glaucoma blebs,²⁹ and for the management of tube exposure following tube shunt surgery.³⁰ Although results from previous clinical and experimental studies of amniotic membrane transplantation in trabeculectomy have been promising, it remained unclear whether amniotic membrane could be used as a routine procedure for the prevention of fibrosis in GFS. For this purpose we carried out this prospective baseline study evaluating the effectiveness of AMT in trabeculectomy for the treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Characteristics of the amniotic membrane are discussed.

Methods

Sixty-one consecutive patients (70 eyes) with primary open glaucoma were assessed for eligibility to participate in the study. Five patients refused and six did not meet the inclusion criteria. Figure 1 shows the flow of the patients in the study. After informed consent was obtained, 59 eyes of 50 patients were randomized in two groups. The first group (study group) consisted of 27 eyes that received amniotic membrane transplantation at the trabeculectomy site and the second group (control group) consisted of 32 eyes that underwent standard trabeculectomy without any antimetabolites.

Figure 1.

Flow chart showing the progression of patients in the study.

Inclusion criteria were the presence of POAG and at least one of the following: unsatisfactory target intraocular pressure (IOP) control with topical antiglaucoma treatment; optic nerve damage progression on two consecutive visual field tests and increase of cup-to-disk ratio in a period of 24 months; allergy to topical agents; or poor compliance. Exclusion criteria were: any other type of glaucoma; only-eye patients; past or present anterior segment pathology coexistence (apart from cataract); and previously failed glaucoma filtration surgery. The study design was according to the Declaration of Helsinki.

Human amniotic membranes were prepared as previously described.^29,31 Human placenta was obtained under sterile condition shortly after cesarean section when Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis B and C virus, syphilis, and Creutzfeldt–Jacob disease had been excluded with serological testing. Under a lamellar flow hood, the placenta was washed free of blood clots with sterile physiologic saline solution containing 50 mg/mL penicillin, 50 mg/mL streptomycin, 100 mg/mL neomycin, 2.5 mg/mL amphotericin, and subsequently the amnion was separated from the rest of the chorion with blunt dissection. The amniotic membrane was then placed on to nitrocellulose paper with the epithelial/basement membrane facing up, cut into rectangular pieces of 3 × 3 cm and stored at −80°C in sterile vials containing Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s solution and glycerol at a ratio of 1:1. The membranes for use were left to defrost for 10 minutes before surgery at operating theatre temperature and washed twice with balanced salt solution before transplantation.

Surgery was performed by two surgeons under inferior nasal fornix sub-Tenon’s anesthesia consisting of lidocaine and marcaine at a ratio of 1:4. The surgical technique was as follows. A fornix-based superior conjunctival peritomy was performed followed by cautery and thorough cleaning of the scleral surface. A 3 × 4 mm scleral flap was prepared and anterior chamber paracentesis was done followed by sclerectomy with Vannas scissors. Iridectomy was performed with iris scissors and the scleral flap secured with 2 8.0 nylon sutures. Once good filtration was assured, one rectangular piece of amniotic membrane measuring approximately 5 × 5 mm was prepared and positioned over the scleral flap with the matrix side facing the scleral surface. No sutures were used to secure the membrane. Tenon’s capsule and conjunctiva were positioned over the membrane and closed with interrupted 7.0 Vicryl sutures, taking extra care not to fold the amniotic membrane. The paracentesis tract was used to inject balanced salt solution into the anterior chamber to confirm aqueous flow in the newly formed bleb and check for leakage. Subconjunctival injection of betamethasone 1% and cefuroxime 125 mg was administered in the inferior fornix.

The eye patch was removed the next morning and eyes were examined at 1 day, 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, and every 6 months thereafter for a minimum of 2 years follow-up. Additional visits were scheduled at the discretion of the operating surgeon. The postoperative regime was identical for both groups and consisted of topical dexamethasone 1% and tobramycin 6 times daily for 1 month followed by a tapering schedule. Visual acuity, IOP, slit-lamp examination, and bleb characterization in terms of area, vascularity, and height based on the principles of the Moorfields Bleb Grading System was performed at each visit.

Results are given as median ± inter quartile range (IQR) except where indicated. Statistical evaluation between categorical variables and type of surgery was performed using Fisher’s Exact Test. A nonparametric Mann–Whitney test was used for comparison of continuous quantitative variables. The Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed ranks test was used for the statistical analysis of number of medications before and after surgery. Cox proportional hazards model and Kaplan– Meier analysis and curves were performed. A P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Success was defined as IOP <21 mmHg without any medications at any stage of the follow-up. Primary outcome measures were IOP, and functionality and morphology of the bleb. The secondary outcome measure was the reduction of antiglaucoma medications. Eyes lost from follow-up have been included in the analysis until they stopped attending the scheduled postoperative visit and then censored from the study (right censoring). Intraoperative and postoperative complications were reported. All statistical analyses were performed with SPSS (v 16.0 for Windows; SPSS, Inc, Chicago, IL).

Results

A total of 59 eyes underwent statistical analysis, 27 of which received amniotic membrane transplantation (amniotic–study group, 45.7%) and 32 underwent trabeculectomy without any antifibrotic agents (nonamniotic–control group, 54.3%). Table 1 shows demographic and principal clinical characteristics. At 24 months follow-up, two patients from the study group and seven from the control group developed IOP >21 mmHg and had to start topical antiglaucoma treatment. There was no statistical difference in the number of medications between study and control group before surgery (P = 0.889) or after surgery (P = 0.302).

Table 1.

Demographics and principal clinical characteristics of amniotic and nonamniotic groups

	Nonamniotic N (%)	Amniotic N (%)	P–value
Gender			0.183
Female	16 (50.0)	8 (29.6)
Male	16 (50.0)	19 (70.4)
IOP ≥ 21 after operation			0.16
No	25 (78.1)	25 (92.6)
Yes	7 (21.9)	2 (7.4)
	Median (IQR)
Age (years)	71.5 (67.0, 76.0)	70.0 (63.0, 80.0)	0.755
	Mean (min, max)
No of medicines before operation	2.67 (1, 4)	2.64 (1, 4)	0.889
No of medicines after operation	0.33 (0, 3)	0.18 (0, 3)	0.302
Reduction in no of medicines after operation	2.33 (0, 4)	2.45 (0, 4)	0.766

Abbreviations: IOP, intraocular pressure; IQR, median ± inter quartile range.

Figure 2 provides median intraocular pressures variation pre- and post-op for each group up to 24 months follow-up. There were no differences between the two groups (study group median IOP at 24 months was 15.5 mmHg vs 16 mmHg of the control group).

Figure 2.

Plot of the intraocular pressure over time.

Notes: Bars indicate IQR. There was no statistical difference between the two groups at any time during the follow-up.

Abbreviations: IQR, median ± inter quartile range; IOP, intraocular pressure.

Table 2 shows the reduction of intraocular pressure for each group and the comparison between amniotic and nonamniotic eyes. At the end of the follow-up, IOP reduction in the study group was 8 mmHg (median) and 6 mmHg in the control group (P = 0.276). The P value at each visit demonstrates that there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups.

Table 2.

Reduction of intraocular pressure pre- and post-op for each group up to 24 months follow-up and comparison between the two groups

	Nonamniotic median (IQR)	Amniotic median (IQR)	P-value
1 day after operation	−12.0 (−16.0, −9.5)	−13.0 (−16.0, −11.0)	0.609
2 months after operation	−7.0 (−10.0, −6.0)	−8.0 (−10.0, −6.0)	0.603
6 months after operation	−7.0 (−10.0, −4.0)	−7.5 (−10.0, −6.0)	0.758
12 months after operation	−7.0 (−9.0, −5.0)	−7.5 (−9.0, −5.5)	0.668
18 months after operation	−7.0 (−9.0, −5.0)	−8.0 (−10.0, −6.0)	0.524
24 months after operation	−6.0 (−8.5, −4.5)	−8.0 (−9.0, −6.0)	0.276

Note:

^*Statistically significant at 0.0083 level (after Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons).

Abbreviation: IQR, median ± inter quartile range.

The number of postoperative medications decreased significantly in both groups (P < 0.001) (Table 3). Two patients in the amniotic group (9%) and six patients in the nonamniotic group (20%) needed topical antiglaucoma treatment.

Table 3.

Number of topical antiglaucoma medications before and after surgery for each group

No of medicines	Before operation N (%)	After operation N (%)
Nonamniotic
0	0 (0)	26 (81.2)
1	1 (3.1)	3 (9.3)
2	12 (37.5)	2 (6.2)
3	15 (46.8)	1 (3.1)
4	4 (12.5)	0 (0)
Amniotic
0	0 (0)	25 (92.5)
1	1 (3.7)	1 (3.7)
2	9 (33.3)	0 (0)
3	14 (51.8)	1 (3.7)
4	3 (11.1)	0 (0)

Note: P-value (Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks test): <0.001.

The risk of developing IOP ≥21 mmHg based on the type of surgery was calculated with the Cox Proportional Hazards Model. In 24 months follow-up, eyes that underwent amnion shielded trabeculectomy had 61.6% less risk of IOP ≥21 mmHg compared to eyes that underwent trabeculectomy without amniotic membrane transplantation. However the P value was not statistically significant (P = 0.233). Figure 3 gives the estimated survival probabilities of IOP ≥21 mmHg in the two groups.

Figure 3.

Kaplan–Meier filtration surgery survival curve.

With regards to bleb morphology, six eyes in the study group (22%) had particularly elevated blebs at 2 weeks (Figure 4A) in contrast to only one (3%) of the control group. All the amniotic blebs decreased in height and became diffuse with mild vascularization at 1 month post-op (Figure 4B and C). Only one eye from the study group had subconjunctival blood at 2 weeks, which resolved completely at 1 month. The same eye, at the end, developed a nonvascularized bleb with a cystic wall in the presence of a very good IOP control. At 6 months post-op, five of the 27 study eyes (18%) had a flat mildly vascularized bleb, 15 eyes (55.5%) had a grade 2 bleb height with normal vascularization, and one bleb (3.7%) was encysted (Figure 5). There were no thin avascular blebs. Of the control group, eight eyes (25%) had a flat bleb, 20 eyes (62.5%) had a grade 2 bleb with normal vascularization, and four eyes (12.5%) had encysted blebs.

Figure 4.

Appearance of elevated amnion shielded trabeculectomy bleb at 1 week post-op (A). Amniotic group blebs at 1 month post-op. The blebs are diffuse, with mild vascularization (B and C).

Figure 5.

Cystic bleb of the amniotic group at 2 weeks post-op. The bleb remained dysfunctional throughout the follow-up.

Postoperative interventions included laser suture lysis in one eye of the nonamniotic group that developed IOP >21 mmHg and subsequently the IOP normalized promptly. Three AMT eyes (11%) and six control group eyes (18.7%) presented with shallow anterior chambers the first day post-op, which deepened at the end of the first week without intervention.

In terms of complications there were no cases of endophthalmitis. One eye of the amniotic group had diffuse dot blot retinal hemorrhages at 1 week post-op probably related to intraoperative hypotony, which resolved spontaneously at 1 month and one eye presented with anterior chamber fibrin 48 hours following surgery due to poor compliance because the patient did not instill steroids at all. The fibrin resolved promptly following subconjunctival injection of steroids. There were three eyes from the control group that developed limited choroidal detachment not threatening the macula or affecting vision, which fully resolved by the end of the first 4 weeks. There were no leaking blebs and no eyes needed urgent reintervention.

Visual acuity (VA) remained essentially unchanged for the first 6 months post-op and there was no difference between the two groups in terms of cataract progression (Table 4). However, from the sixth month until the end of the follow-up some of the patients had to be listed for cataract surgery, therefore VA was excluded from further statistical analysis.

Table 4.

Visual acuity (Snellen lines) pre-op and at 6 months follow-up. There were no statistical differences between the two groups

	Nonamniotic median (IQR)	Amniotic median (IQR)	P value
Pre-op VA	0.4 (0.1, 0.5)	0.5 (0.2, 0.6)	0.36
6 months post-op VA	0.3 (0.1, 0.5)	0.3 (0.2, 0.5)	0.489
VA (6 months) post-op–pre-op	−0.1 (−0.1, 0.0)	−0.1 (−0.1, 0.0)	0.377

Abbreviations: IQR, median ± inter quartile range; VA, visual acuity.

Discussion

Healing response after glaucoma filtration surgery is the main determinant of surgical failure, therefore wound healing modulation appears to be the key element in order to improve trabeculectomy outcomes.

The amniotic membrane is the innermost layer of the fetal membranes and has multiple properties²⁶ that might be beneficial in the process of wound healing modulation in glaucoma filtration surgery such as angiogenesis suppression, good epithelization, no host rejection, high hydraulic conductivity, low healing response,¹ and more importantly it downregulates the TGF-β2.³² It was Fujishima et al who first suggested the use of AMT in GFS in 1998²⁸ followed by Barton et al¹ who demonstrated improved trabeculectomy survival rate in experimental glaucoma surgery and launched the idea of AM transplantation in trabeculectomy. Droslum et al used a double sheet of amniotic membrane impregnated in MM-C in nine patients with refractory glaucoma with encouraging results but no control group,²⁷ similarly to Sheha et al who found significant advantage in using a single layer of AM and MM-C under the scleral flap compared to only MM-C in a prospective study of 37 eyes with refractory glaucoma.³³ Zheng found no difference in trabeculectomy with neither AM or MM-C in a prospective study of 48 eyes³⁴ whereas Eliezer used a folded membrane over the sclera and did not notice a statistically significant difference in terms of IOP between classic and amnion shielded trabeculectomy at 12 months follow-up in 32 eyes with POAG.³⁵ In further experiments amniotic membrane was shown to be less effective than MMC³⁶ and octreotide³⁷ in reducing fibroblast proliferation in GFS but still with a significant antifibrotic effect.

This was a prospective randomized study assessing the efficacy of amniotic membrane transplantation in trabeculectomy with, to the best of our knowledge, the longest follow-up period (24 months) and the largest number of participating eyes (59 eyes). In order to assess a therapeutic intervention it is essential to compare efficacy and complications against a standard procedure. Trabeculectomy, almost 40 years since its introduction,³⁸ remains the gold standard in GFS for POAG, and we chose patients with POAG because it is the most common type of glaucoma. We set IOP <21 mmHg as the endpoint in order to be comparable with the majority of the published surgical trials of trabeculectomy survival and did not use any antimetabolites because the aim was a baseline study of the amniotic membrane in GFS. Demographics were similar in both study and control groups and the preoperative intraocular pressures and number of medications did not differ significantly. We positioned the amniotic layer over the scleral flap based on the assumption that fibrosis responsible for bleb failure is primarily formed at the subconjunctival space. This is the first study where the amnion was not sutured, resulting in shorter operative time and potentially fewer intraoperative complications. The surgical technique followed by the two surgeons was the same in order to reduce intra-observer bias.

Results show that postoperative IOP levels were arithmetically lower in the amnion group but never reached statistically significant levels throughout the 24 months of follow-up. Reduction of IOP was greater in the amniotic group and at 24 months the difference between study and control group reached 2 mmHg, however the P value was again not significant. Of better value to the comparison between the two groups seems to be the survival curve and the risk of developing IOP ≥21 mmHg. In fact the AMT filtration procedure showed longer survival in terms of IOP reduction (Figure 3) and 61% less risk of failure compared to the standard procedure. Unfortunately the P value failed to reach statistical significance and, based on the risk value, we believe this is probably due to the relatively small size of the study population rather than ineffectiveness of the AMT.

Bleb morphology showed more diffuse and mildly vascularized blebs in the AMT group, compared to flatter blebs in the control group. This could be associated with a better bleb function with a more diffuse area of drainage and less risk of cystic, thin-walled blebs that we observe when treating with antimetabolites. The aforementioned is supported by the anti-scarring properties of the AM. No major intra- or postoperative complications were noted and no re-operations for leakage were needed, thus AMT proved safe and easy to perform. Patients did not complain of dysesthetic blebs since the initially elevated AMT blebs normalized in height 4 weeks following surgery, in agreement with previous observations in rabbits that AM dissolves in approximately 1 month.³⁹

The unequal number of study and control eyes is an obvious weakness of this study and this is because in the first year of the study, five patients from the AMT group and two from the control group were lost to follow-up and therefore included in the first 6 months data analysis only. They were excluded thereafter, using right censoring in order to avoid major bias in the long-term results since those were, according to our opinion, of major importance. Furthermore we used one single layer of amniotic membrane in contrast to previous reports of folded or double layer of AM, because we did not have strong evidence to support a synergistic effect of more layers of AM.

Like any other biological substrate transplantation, amniotic membrane transplantation has a potential danger of spreading viruses and bacteria. The risk of infections is minimized if adequate donor screening and serological testing is performed and it is imperative to respect the 6 months window period and retest the donor before the amnion is used. Moreover, it is recommended that amnion for use in ocular surgery should be obtained from elective cesarean deliveries.⁴⁰

With this prospective randomized study we tried to investigate the usefulness of AMT in trabeculectomies for the treatment of primary open glaucoma. In conclusion, the aforementioned outcomes were suggestive of a favorable effect of the AM on wound healing and bleb survival; nevertheless our data do not provide firm evidence that AMT should be used as a routine procedure in the surgical treatment of POAG.