In Vivo Confocal Microscopy in Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency After Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation: A Sub-analysis from a Phase I–II Clinical Trial

Introduction The aim of this work is to evaluate the effect of mesenchymal stem cell transplantation (MSCT) and cultivated limbal epithelial transplantation (CLET) therapies on the limbus of patients suffering from limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD). Methods A sub-analysis of a phase I–II randomized, controlled, and double-masked clinical trial was performed to assess the changes in the anatomical structures of the limbus. In vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) analysis was carried out in LSCD eyes before and 12 months after allogeneic MSCT or CLET. Epithelial phenotype of the central cornea, as well as the presence of transition zones and palisades of Vogt in the limbus, were assessed using Wilcoxon test. Results Twenty-three LSCD (14 MSCT and nine CLET) eyes were included. The epithelial phenotype of the central cornea improved significantly ( p