Transplantation of salivary glands may help relieve symptoms of severe dry eye disease
Transplantation of salivary glands should be recommended on the basis of the severity of dry eye disease according to a recent study published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology.
A study was conducted to compare submandibular gland (SMG) transplantation with minor salivary glands (MSGs) transplantation for the treatment of different dry eye diseases (DED).
Seventy-three refractory dry eye diseases eyes were divided into three groups. Group A: 35 end-stage of dry eye disease eyes who underwent SMG transplantation. Group B: 20 end-stage DED eyes with MSGs transplantation. Group C: 18 non-end-stage of dry eye disease eyes with MSGs transplantation. Schirmer test (ST), tear break-up time (TBUT), corneal fluorescein staining (FL), and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were measured before and after surgery.
Results:
- The length of hospital stay, length of operation, and hospital fee were significantly higher in the group
- A than in group B or C. Eyes in group A showed the most severe dry eye disease with preoperative ST, TBUT, FL, and BCVA of 0.36 mm/5min, 0.03 s, 10.97, and 0.11, respectively, which improved significantly to 20.23 mm/5min, 1.74 s, 7.58, and 0.2 at > 2 years follow-up.
- Group B had similar baseline data and significant but limited improvement only in the ST (0.55 mm/5min to 3.79 mm/5min) and FL (11.10 to 9.58) after the operation.
- Group C had better baseline ST, TBUT, FL, and BCVA of 0.89 mm/5min, 3.49 s, 1.83, and 0.81, respectively, which improved significantly (except for BCVA) to 9.35 mm/5min, 9.08 s, 0.53, and 0.89 after MSGs transplantation.
Submandibular gland transplantation could be recommended to treat end-stage refractory of dry eye disease. MSGs transplantation may provide satisfying results for refractory dry eye disease with relatively less severe impairment of the eye.
Reference:
Submandibular gland transplantation vs. minor salivary glands transplantation for treatment of dry eye: A retrospective cohort study. Salivary glands transplantations for dry eye disease by Jia-Zeng Su et al. published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajo.2022.05.019
Keywords:
Transplantation, salivary, glands, recommended, basis, severity, DED, American Journal of Ophthalmology, Submandibular gland, minor salivary glands, dry eye disease, Bang Zhang, Zhen Wang, Xiao-Jing Liu, Zhi-Gang Cai, Lei-Zhang, Xin-Peng, Jun Wu, Xin-Hua Liu, Lan Lv, Guang-Yan Yu
