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Innovative Approach to Treat Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) stands as a significant contributor to vision loss and blindness among elderly individuals. A particularly severe form of this condition, known as wet AMD, involves the growth of abnormal blood vessels in the macula—the central region of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision. This abnormal growth can lead to fluid and blood leakage, causing substantial damage and dysfunction in the macula. Although wet AMD represents a smaller percentage of overall AMD cases, it is responsible for approximately 90% of blindness attributed to this eye disorder.

The early stages of wet AMD can be managed using pharmaceutical treatments that aim to inhibit the development of these new blood vessels. However, these drugs often prove less effective in cases where the condition has progressed significantly. A recent study suggests an alternative treatment approach that may offer hope for more advanced cases: the surgical excision of the abnormal blood vessels followed by the transplantation of stem cell-derived retinal cells. This innovative research was spearheaded by Yong Liu and his team from the Third Military Medical University Southwest Hospital in China and published in the journal Stem Cell Reports.

In their clinical investigation involving ten patients diagnosed with wet AMD, the researchers pioneered a technique to safely excise the abnormal blood vessels. Following this procedure, stem cell-derived retinal cells were transplanted to replace the cells that had been damaged or lost. Remarkably, improvements were noted in the retinal structure of patients from whom the blood vessel patches were completely removed. These results indicate that the transplanted cells not only survived but also contributed to the repair of the damaged retina. Furthermore, during a 12-month follow-up, patients displayed stable or even enhanced visual acuity, experiencing minimal side effects.

Conversely, patients from whom only partial removal of the blood vessel patches was achieved faced ongoing issues, including bleeding and inflammation in the eye, leading to inadequate retinal regeneration and no improvement in vision. The researchers concluded that achieving complete and safe removal of the abnormal blood vessel patches is crucial in preventing inflammation and fostering an environment conducive to the survival and integration of the transplanted cells. This groundbreaking study lays the groundwork for further research with larger patient cohorts to validate the therapeutic effectiveness and safety of this treatment approach.

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