Corneal Endothelial Cell Loss after Penetrating Keratoplasty in Relation to Preoperative Recipient Endothelial Cell Density

摘要

Aim: Our purpose was to assess recipient endothelial cell density and trephination diameter as predictive factors for corneal endothelial cell density after penetrating keratoplasty (PKP). Methods: Forty-eight eyes showing keratoco-nus (group I, with sufficient recipient endothelial cell density) and 42 eyes demonstrating bullous keratopathy or Fuchs' dystrophy (group II, with insufficient recipient endothelial cell density) were included in this retrospective study. The endothelial cell density after PKP was assessed over 2 years. Results: Chronic endothelial cell loss was significantly higher in group II than in group I patients at all follow-up times >3 months (p < 0.05). In group II patients, an inverse correlation between endothelial cell loss and trephine diameter was observed. Conclusion: This study shows that recipient endothelial cell density is a riskfactor for increased endothelial cell loss following PKP. In patients with insufficient endothelial cell density, a large trephine size could reduce chronic endothelial Cell lOSS.