title: Penetrating keratoplasty in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: The authors reviewed in a retrospective manner 47 penetrating keratoplasties performed on 23 eyes of 21 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The indications for the first penetrating keratoplasty were corneal melt in 19 eyes (83%), infectious keratitis in 2 eyes (9%), and corneal scarring after ulceration in 2 eyes (9%). Twelve of the 23 eyes required 24 repeat penetrating keratoplasties. Seventeen of the 23 eyes (74%) had clear grafts at the last follow-up visit, a median of 13.7 months after the last penetrating keratoplasty. The final best corrected visual acuity was greater than or equal to 20/60 in 4 eyes (17%), 20/70 to 20/100 in 1 eye (4%), 20/200 to 20/400 in 7 eyes (30%), counting fingers in 4 eyes (17%), hand motions in 2 eyes (9%), and light perception in 4 eyes (17%). One eye (4%) was enucleated. Anatomic success (absence of phthisis bulbi, enucleation, or conjunctival flap) was achieved in 20 eyes (87%). The survival probability for the 21 patients was only 48% 5 years after the first penetrating keratoplasty. The authors conclude that penetrating keratoplasty is often anatomically successful in patients with rheumatoid arthritis; however, the prognosis is poor for both vision and survival of the patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Palay
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Stulting
authors.forename: G O
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Waring
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006801:Humans; D007634:Keratitis / Q000209:etiology; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D014792:Visual Acuity