Bilateral Retinal Detachments After Intravitreal Injection of Adipose-Derived 'Stem Cells' in a Patient With Exudative Macular Degeneration

Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2017 Sep 1;48(9):772-775. doi: 10.3928/23258160-20170829-16.

Abstract

A 77-year-old woman with exudative macular degeneration underwent bilateral intravitreal injections of "stem cells" at a clinic in Georgia. One month and 3 months after injection, she developed retinal detachments in the left and right eyes, respectively. Increased awareness within the medical community of such poor outcomes is critical so that clinics offering untested practices that have been shown to be potentially harmful to patients can be identified and brought under U.S. Food and Drug Administration oversight. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2017;48:772-775.].

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adipocytes / cytology
  • Aged
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intravitreal Injections
  • Macular Degeneration / surgery*
  • Retinal Detachment / etiology*
  • Stem Cell Transplantation / adverse effects*