Volume 45, Issue 3 pp. 224-231

Original Article

Correlation between the existence of the palisades of Vogt and limbal epithelial thickness in limbal stem cell deficiency

Qihua Le MD PhD,

Qihua Le MD PhD

Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China

Research Center, Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China

Myopia Key Laboratory of Ministry of Health, Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China

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Yujing Yang MD,

Yujing Yang MD

Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China

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Sophie X Deng MD PhD,

Corresponding Author

Sophie X Deng MD PhD

[email protected]

Stein Eye Institute, Cornea Division, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA

Correspondence: Dr Jianjiang Xu, Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University, No. 83 Fenyang Road, Shanghai 200031, China. E-mail: [email protected]

Dr Sophie X. Deng, Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, 100 Stein Plaza, Los Angeles CA 90095, USA. E-mail: [email protected]

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Jianjiang Xu MD PhD,

Corresponding Author

Jianjiang Xu MD PhD

[email protected]

Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China

Correspondence: Dr Jianjiang Xu, Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University, No. 83 Fenyang Road, Shanghai 200031, China. E-mail: [email protected]

Dr Sophie X. Deng, Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, 100 Stein Plaza, Los Angeles CA 90095, USA. E-mail: [email protected]

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Qihua Le MD PhD,

Qihua Le MD PhD

Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China

Research Center, Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China

Myopia Key Laboratory of Ministry of Health, Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China

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Yujing Yang MD,

Yujing Yang MD

Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China

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Sophie X Deng MD PhD,

Corresponding Author

Sophie X Deng MD PhD

[email protected]

Stein Eye Institute, Cornea Division, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA

Correspondence: Dr Jianjiang Xu, Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University, No. 83 Fenyang Road, Shanghai 200031, China. E-mail: [email protected]

Dr Sophie X. Deng, Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, 100 Stein Plaza, Los Angeles CA 90095, USA. E-mail: [email protected]

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Jianjiang Xu MD PhD,

Corresponding Author

Jianjiang Xu MD PhD

[email protected]

Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China

Correspondence: Dr Jianjiang Xu, Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University, No. 83 Fenyang Road, Shanghai 200031, China. E-mail: [email protected]

Dr Sophie X. Deng, Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, 100 Stein Plaza, Los Angeles CA 90095, USA. E-mail: [email protected]

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First published: 03 September 2016

https://doi.org/10.1111/ceo.12832

Citations: 29

Competing/conflicts of interest: None.

Funding sources: XJ and LQ received grants support from National Natural Science Foundation of China (81020108017 and 81270014). SXD received grant support from the National Eye Institute (5P30EY000331 and 1R01EY021797) and the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (TR2–01768 and CLIN1–08686), and an unrestricted grant from Research to Prevent Blindness.

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Abstract

Background

The aims of the study were to investigate limbal epithelial thickness in subjects with limbal stem cell deficiency and to evaluate the correlation between the palisades of Vogt and limbal epithelial thickness.

Design

Cross-sectional observational study.

Participants

Twenty-four subjects (39 eyes) with limbal stem cell deficiency and 20 normal controls (20 eyes).

Methods

Anterior segment optical coherence tomography and laser scanning confocal microscopy were performed to assess each quadrant of the limbus.

Main Outcome Measures

Limbal epithelial thickness and palisades of Vogt morphology in each quadrant were characterized. The correlation between limbal epithelial thickness and palisades of Vogt was analysed.

Results

The average limbal epithelial thicknesses in eyes with limbal stem cell deficiency were 19.9%, 23.4%, 13.8% and 13.5% less than normal controls at superior, inferior, nasal and temporal limbus (P = 0.008, 0.006, 0.014 and 0.011, respectively). Limbal epithelial thicknesses within limbal quadrants with palisades of Vogt were similar to those measured in the same quadrants in normal controls, whereas limbal epithelial thicknesses in the superior, inferior, nasal and temporal quadrants without palisades of Vogt were 27.8%, 29.8%, 14.7% and 15.6% less than the limbal epithelial thickness in corresponding regions of normal eyes (superior and inferior: P < 0.001; nasal and temporal: P = 0.005). Limbal epithelial thickness in the nasal and temporal quadrants was significantly less than that in the superior and inferior quadrants, both in normal controls and in limbal stem cell deficiency subjects(P < 0.001 and P = 0.019). Regression analysis showed that limbal epithelial thickness had a significant correlation with the presence of palisades of Vogt in each quadrant (superior, P = 0.002; inferior, P = 0.001; nasal, P = 0.047; temporal, P = 0.030).

Conclusions

A significant correlation was found between limbal epithelial thickness and the presence of palisades of Vogt. Limbal epithelial thinning as observed with anterior segment optical coherence tomography is a sign of limbal stem cell deficiency.

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Citing Literature

Volume45, Issue3

April 2017

Pages 224-231

Correlation between the existence of the palisades of Vogt and limbal epithelial thickness in limbal stem cell deficiency

Abstract

Background

Design

Participants

Methods

Main Outcome Measures

Results

Conclusions

References

Citing Literature

References

Information

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Correlation between the existence of the palisades of Vogt and limbal epithelial thickness in limbal stem cell deficiency

Abstract

Background

Design

Participants

Methods

Main Outcome Measures

Results

Conclusions

References

Citing Literature

References

Related

Information