Abstract
Purpose: :
To determine if the six months postoperative central Endothelial Cell Density (ECD) has a relationship with the overall survival of the graft Descemet's Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK).
Methods: :
Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty was performed in 598 eyes with Fuchs' dystrophy. The eyes were then divided into two groups based on six-month ECD. Group 1 had an ECD < 2000 (265 eyes) and Group 2 had an ECD >= 2000 (333 eyes) at the six months postoperative visit. Kaplan Meier survival analysis was performed, and long-term survival rates were compared between the two groups using the Mantel-Cox Log Rank test. Follow-up time ranged from 184 to 2250 days.
Results: :
Mean 6-month ECD for group 1 was 1672 (36.8 % loss from pre-op), and 2306 for Group 2 (15.4% loss). There was a total of 5 graft failures, all within Group 1. Time to failure ranged from 184 to 1540 days. Graft survival rate was 98.1% for Group 1 and 100% for Group 2 (P = 0.016).
Conclusions: :
In Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty grafts, low ECD at six months post-op can be predictive of reduced graft survival.
Keywords: cornea: endothelium • transplantation • cornea: clinical science