Quality of life in patients with dry age-related macular degeneration (dry AMD) treated with intravitreal bone marrow-derived stem cells (AMDCELL-clinical trial)

Abstract

Background: Dry age-related macular degeneration (dry AMD) is a severe neurodegenerative disease of the retina that can lead to blindness. We assessed the visionrelated quality of life in patients with dry AMD treated with intravitreal bone marrow-derived stem cells. Methods: The study included 10 patients with dry AMD treated with intravitreal bone marrow-derived stem cells. The vision-related quality of life was evaluated using the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire-25. Patients answered a questionnaire before treatment and 3 and 12 months after treatment. Results: All patients completed the survey as scheduled. There was a statistically significant improvement (p < 0.05) in the quality of life of patients 6 months after treatment, especially in mental health (p = 0.003), colour vision (p = 0.005), general vision (p = 0.05), and dependence (p = 0.067). There was a decline in general health (p = 0.77). There were improvements in the answers to other questions, but the results were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Cell therapy with intravitreal bone marrow-derived stem cells improved the quality of life of patients with dry AMD. A larger number of cases will be necessary to more fully evaluate the effects of this therapy on the quality of life of these patients. *Correspondence to: Rubens Camargo Siqueira, Department of Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Ribeirao Preto School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Tel: +55 (17) 32345858, Fax: +55 (17) 32140896; E-mail: rubenssiqueira@terra.com.br