Comparison of Early and Late Corneal Graft Rejection

Abstract

Purpose: : Corneal graft rejection is the most common reason for the failure of an allograft corneal transplant. We undertook this study to identify and compare risk factors and treatment outcomes for early and late corneal graft rejections.

Methods: : A retrospective case file analysis of 880 penetrating keratoplasties was performed at a tertiary ophthalmic care centre. Patients were divided into ‘early rejectors’ (rejection episode within six months postoperatively) and ‘late rejectors’ (rejection episode after six months postoperatively). The main parameters observed were the patients’ preoperative characteristics, demographics, history and clinical signs, donor tissue details, surgical technique, details of rejection episode, treatment and outcome information.

Results: : A total of 203 patients with rejection episodes were identified. Of these, 58 (29%) patients experienced early rejection episodes and 145 (71%) patients experienced late rejection episodes. Patient characteristics were found to be similar between these two groups of patients after a Bonferroni correction was applied (p > 0.005). Treatment outcomes of graft rejections were not significantly different (p 0.68) between early and late rejectors, with 83% of patients responding to rejection treatment.

Conclusions: : Patients with early and late graft rejection have similar characteristics and both groups respond to treatment equally.

Keywords: cornea: clinical science