Abstract
Purpose: :
To compare the endothelial cell count in old corneas with young corneas after penetrating keratoplasty.
Methods: :
All patients with penetrating keratoplasty performed since April 1999 were included. Specular microscopy (Topcon SP 200) before and after one year of follow up was required. Donor corneas had endothelial cell count at least 2,400 cells/mm2, preservation time of 10 hours maximum. Characteristics of donor corneas (striaes, un–epithelialization, edema) were reported. We divided patients into two groups: group 1 with endothelial cell count (ECC) during the first year of follow up, group 2 with ECC after the first year of follow up. Both groups were divided into two subgroups: group A young corneas (< 60 years old) and group B old corneas (> 60 years old). Endothelial cell density and coefficient of variation for each sub–group was done.
Results: :
Fourty five eyes were included; 24 eyes were in subgroup B and 21 in subgroup A; Preoperative endothelial cell count in group 1 subgroup A had 2,760 cell/mm2 and 1,321 cells/mm2 postoperatively. In group 1 subgroup B 2,723 cells/mm2 and 1,455 cells/mm2 (p=0.5). Preoperative endothelial cell count in group 2 subgroup A had 2,745 cells/mm2 and 1,025 cells/mm2 postoperatively. In group 2 subgroup B 2,860 cells/mm2 and 1,072 cells/mm2 (p=0.7).
Conclusions: :
Was not statistically significant difference between the endothelial cell count between both groups. The transparency of the cornea depends on the number of endothelial cell count
Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: treatment/prevention assessment/controlled clinical trials • cornea: endothelium • transplantation