Multi-layer amniotic membrane graft for pterygium in a patient with xeroderma pigmentosum.

BACKGROUND Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a rare, autosomal recessive, premalignant condition of the skin, and is reported to be associated with ocular surface disorders such as conjunctival malignancy and pterygium. Herein, we report a case of successful management of pterygium with multi-layer amniotic membrane graft (AMG) in a young XP patient. CASE An 11-year-old Japanese girl, who had been diagnosed as having XP, was referred to us for treatment of her bilateral pterygium. Surgical intervention was attempted for a temporal, presumably fast-growing pterygium in her left eye. Multi-layer amniotic membrane grafting was performed. OBSERVATIONS The surgery-induced pain and irritation disappeared within a day. The limbal conjunctival autograft survived on the AMG and re-epithelialization over the AMG was completed in 2 weeks. Best corrected visual acuity improved from 20/32 to 20/16 one month postoperatively. During the 1-year follow-up period, no recurrence was noted. CONCLUSIONS The present case exemplifies that AMG as an adjunct to primary pterygium resection is effective even in a young patient with XP. In addition, multi-layer AMG, which we first demonstrated in this report, seems to be useful for protecting bare sclera and extraocular muscles from mechanical injury.