Purpose: To investigate the presence and concentration of α1-antitrypsin in aqueous humour at the time of corneal rejection and to compare results obtained from patients with reversible and irreversible rejection. Methods: Samples of aq ueous humour were obtained from 17 patients with acute corneal endothelial allog raft rejection. The presence of α1-antitrypsin in aqueous humour was confirmed by immunoblotting and measured employing a sandwich ELISA. Total protein concen trations in aqueous humour were measured using Bradford’s method. The outcome o f corneal rejection episodes was determined 1 month after diagnosing corneal rej ection and described as reversible or irreversible rejection. Results: α1-anti trypsin was detected in aqueous humour. Patients with reversible rejection had s ignificantly higher α1-antitrypsin concentration than patients with irreversib le rejection (p=0.044). There was no significant difference in total protein con centrations (p=0.745), and no correlation was found between α1-antitrypsin and total protein concentrations (p=0.368). Conclusions: α1-antitrypsin in aqueou s humour seems to signal a favourable outcome of corneal rejection. The possible mechanism is discussed.
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