Mitomycin C inhibits recurrent avellino dystrophy after phototherapeutic keratectomy

Abstract

PURPOSE: To report 4 patients with Avellino corneal dystrophy (ACD) who were treated with 0.02% mitomycin C (MMC) during phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK). METHODS: ACD was confirmed by polymorphism of the exon region in the BIGH3 gene using polymerase chain reaction followed by DNA sequencing analysis. Three patients with recurrent ACD and 1 patient with primary ACD underwent PTK. Intraoperative 0.02% MMC was applied topically with a soaked microsponge. RESULTS: There was no recurrence of ACD in the heterozygotes, but there were recurrences with best-corrected visual acuity of 20/30 in the 2 homozygotes. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative use of topical 0.02% MMC in conjunction with PTK may prevent or delay the recurrence of ACD for at least for 1 year.