Autologous platelet concentrate in epiretinal membrane surgery: A single-centre prospective comparative non-inferiority study.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to compare the anatomical and functional results including reading ability after epiretinal membrane (ERM) surgery in patients with and without the use of autologous platelet concentrate (APC). METHODS: Design: Prospective, comparative non-inferiority series. SETTING: Institutional. PATIENTS 51 eyes of 51 patients, who underwent pars-plana vitrectomy (PPV) for ERM surgery. 29 eyes additionally received intraoperative APC, 22 eyes underwent standard procedure without APC use. OBSERVATIONS anatomical and functional outcome parameters (central retinal thickness (CRT), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and reading ability (RA)) were compared between the two groups at 6 weeks and 6 months postoperatively. Subjective assessment of visual acuity and reading ability was also analysed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: BCVA, RA and CRT. RESULTS: Both groups showed significant CRT reduction and RA improvement, while BCVA improvement was significant only in eyes with intraoperative APC use during the follow-up time of 6 months. There was no statistically significant difference between CRT reduction, BCVA and RA improvement between the groups. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative APC use for ERM surgery results in similar anatomical and functional outcomes compared with standard ERM surgery without APC use.