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Assessment of endothelial cell density and corneal thickness in corneal grafts an average of 5 years after penetrating keratoplasty

Bestimmung der Endothelzelldichte und der Hornhautdicke in Hornhauttransplantaten circa 5 Jahre nach einer penetrierenden Keratoplastik

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Summary

Background

Corneal transparency is a useful indicator for corneal function. Our aim was to investigate central corneal endothelial cells and corneal thickness in transplanted corneas at an average of 5.4 years after penetrating keratoplasty

Patients and methods

The study involved 68 perforated keratoplasty patients with at least a 1 year follow-up. Post-operatively, the central corneal endothelial layer was observed using a contact specular microscope. Central endothelial cell density, corneal thickness and the coefficient of variation of endothelial size were statistically analysed.

Results

The post-operative follow-up time was ranging from 12 months to 23 years. Endothelial cell density (ECD) was 1,501 ± 249 cell/mm2. The average cell size was 673.6 ± 98.3 μm2, and the coefficient of variation of cell size was 0.61 ± 0.11. No difference in ECD was detected between diagnostic groups. Corneal thickness was 0.56 ± 0.06 mm. Correlation between ECD and post-operative time was not significant (r = 0.02; p = 0.85).

Conclusion

Our study concluded that ECD showed a higher rate of decrease after penetrating keratoplasty with no relation to pre-operative diagnosis.

Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund

Die Transparenz der Cornea ist ein nützlicher Indikator der Funktion der Hornhaut. Das Ziel unserer Studie war es, die zentralen Endothelzellen der Cornea sowie die Dicke der Hornhaut in transplantierten Hornhäuten circa 5,4 (im Durchschnitt) Jahre nach penetrierender Keratoplastik zu untersuchen.

Patienten und Methoden

In die Studie wurden 68 Patienten nach perforierter Keratoplastik aufgenommen, die zumindest 1 Jahr nachuntersucht worden waren. Postoperativ wurde die zentrale Endothelschicht der Hornhautmittel seines Kontakt-Spekular Mikroskops un-tersucht. Die Dichte der zentralen Endothelzellen, die Dicke der Hornhaut und der Variations-Koeffizient der Größe des Endothels wurden statistisch analysiert.

Ergebnisse

Der Zeitpunkt der postoperativen Kon­trollen variierte von 12 Monaten bis 23 Jahren. Die Endothelzelldichte (EZD) lag bei 1501 ± 249 Zelle/mm2. Der Mittelwert der Zellgröße war 673,6 ± 98,3 μm2 und der Variationskoeffizient 0,61 ± 0,11. Es gab keinen Unterschied in der EZD zwischen den nach Diagnosen eingeteilten Gruppen. Die Korrelation zwischen der EZD und dem Zeitabstand zur Operation war nicht kant (r = 0,02; p = 0,85).

Schlussfolgerung

Unsere Studie zeigt unabhängig von der präoperativen Diagnose eine abfallende Tendenz der EZD nach penetrierender Keratoplastik.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology,Medical Health and Science Center, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdeikrt. 98, 4032, Debrecen, Hungary

    Beata Kettesy MD, Gabor Nemeth MD, PhD, Adam Kemeny-Beke MD, PhD, Andras Berta MD, PhD, DSc & Laszlo Modis Jr. MD, PhD, DSc

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  1. Beata Kettesy MD
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  2. Gabor Nemeth MD, PhD
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  3. Adam Kemeny-Beke MD, PhD
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Correspondence to Beata Kettesy MD.

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Kettesy, B., Nemeth, G., Kemeny-Beke, A. et al. Assessment of endothelial cell density and corneal thickness in corneal grafts an average of 5 years after penetrating keratoplasty. Wien Klin Wochenschr 126, 286–290 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-014-0524-6

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