Original scientific paper
1-Year Follow-up Study of Endothelial Cell Density Loss after Penetrating Keratoplasty
Nataša Drača
Ana Čović
Maja Pauk
Adis Pašalić
Iva Dekaris
Abstract
High endothelial cell densitiy (ECD) is essential for the corneal graft clarity. We evaluated ECD loss in 120 eyes that
underwent penetrating keratoplasty (PK) in Eye Clinic Svjetlost in a one year follow up period. Patients were divided
into 3 groups of high (N=35), intermediate (N=31) and low risk (N=54) for graft failure. Postoperative central endothelial
density, coefficient of variation in cell area (polymegathism), percentage of hexagonal cells (pleomorphism) in comparison
to preoperative donor cell measurements were determined in the following postoperative time-points of 1, 2, 3, 6,
9 and 12 months. There were no significant differences in the preoperative ECD values, storage time, donor age or surgical
procedures between groups. Throughout all time points intermediate group had the greatest statistically significant
ECD loss as compared to high and low risk groups. There were no significant differences between high and low risk
group. After 12 month post PK, intermediate risk group had 28.38% ECD loss as compared to 24.07% in high and
23.03% ECD loss in low risk group. Coefficient of variation in cell area (CV) was for high risk group 0.34, intermediate
0.40 and low risk 0.31 which was not significantly different between groups. Percentage of plemorphism in high risk was
54%, intermediate 58% and in low risk 48% which was significantly different as compared to other two groups. Our
study showed that corneal pathology is among others, very important prognostic factor for ECD after PK. However, longer
follow up period is needed.
Abbreviations: ECD – Endothelial cells density, PK – penetrating keratoplasty, CV – Coefficient of variation in cell
area
Keywords
Endothelial cells; corneal graft
Hrčak ID:
72216
URI
Publication date:
25.9.2011.
Visits: 1.313 *