Effect of donor and recipient factors on corneal graft rejection

R. Doyle Stulting*, Alan Sugar, Roy Beck, Michael Belin, Mariya Dontchev, Robert S. Feder, Robin L. Gal, Edward J. Holland, Craig Kollman, Mark J. Mannis, Francis Price, Walter Stark, David D. Verdier

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

49 Scopus citations

Abstract

PURPOSE: To assess the relationship between donor and recipient factors and corneal allograft rejection in eyes that underwent penetrating keratoplasty in the Cornea Donor Study. METHODS: Overall, 1090 subjects undergoing corneal transplantation for a moderate risk condition (principally Fuchs dystrophy or pseudophakic corneal edema) were followed for up to 5 years. Associations of baseline recipient and donor factors with the occurrence of a probable or definite rejection event were assessed in univariate and multivariate proportional hazards models. RESULTS: Eyes with pseudophakic or aphakic corneal edema (n = 369) were more likely to experience a rejection event than eyes with Fuchs dystrophy (n = 676) [34% ± 6% vs. 22% ± 4%; hazard ratio = 1.56; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.21-2.03]. Among eyes with Fuchs dystrophy, a higher probability of a rejection event was observed in phakic posttransplant eyes compared with those that underwent cataract extraction with or without intraocular lens implantation during penetrating keratoplasty (29% vs. 19%; hazard ratio = 0.54; 95% CI, 0.36-0.82). Female recipients had a higher probability of a rejection event than male recipients (29% vs. 21%; hazard ratio = 1.42; 95% CI, 1.08-1.87) after controlling for the effect of preoperative diagnosis and lens status. Donor age and donor recipient ABO compatibility were not associated with rejection. CONCLUSIONS: There was a substantially higher graft rejection rate in eyes with pseudophakic or aphakic corneal edema compared to that in eyes with Fuchs dystrophy. Female recipients were more likely to have a rejection event than male recipients. Graft rejection was not associated with donor age.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1141-1147
Number of pages7
JournalCornea
Volume31
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2012

Keywords

  • corneal allograft rejection
  • corneal transplantation
  • graft failure

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ophthalmology

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