Retinal detachment after subretinal stem cell transplantation

Abstract

A 60-year-old man with Stargardt's macular dystrophy and visual acuity of 20/400 in the right eye and 20/60 in the left eye underwent a subretinal injection of autologous bone marrow-derived stem cells in the right eye. The patient developed a retinal detachment in the right eye 2 months later that was initially treated with a scleral buckle, but the patient subsequently developed a recurrent retinal detachment with proliferative vitreoretinopathy. A pars plana vitrectomy, membrane peel, fluid-air exchange, endolaser, and silicone oil injection were then performed. The retina remained attached 5 months later, with improvement in visual acuity from hand motions to 20/300 post-vitrectomy. Retinal detachment may occur after subretinal injection of stem cells. Proliferative vitreoretinopathy may develop in these patients, but the visual acuity may return to baseline after retinal reattachment.