title: Clinical and histopathologic changes in the host cornea after epikeratoplasty for keratoconus.
abstract: Five consecutive patients underwent epikeratoplasty for keratoconus. Postoperatively, four patients had poor visual acuity (average, 20/200) secondary to folds in Descemet's membrane and interface scarring. Two underwent penetrating keratoplasty eight months later. Histopathologic examination of the host corneas and the overlying lenticules disclosed epithelial irregularity and subepithelial fibrosis. The host corneas showed folds in Descemet's membrane and focal posterior stromal fibrosis. Electron microscopy disclosed breaks in Bowman's membrane with irregular collagen, posterior aggregates of amorphous material, and focal endothelial degeneration. The fifth patient had graft ulceration and vascularization that required removal of the lenticule. She underwent a penetrating keratoplasty five months later and histopathologic examination demonstrated persistent folds in Descemet's membrane. Immunostaining of specimens from three cases disclosed a reduced expression of sulfated epitopes of keratan sulfate and an increase in sulfated dermatan sulfate in the lenticule and host corneal tissues. These alterations in stromal proteoglycans are characteristic of stromal scars and keratoconus and provide evidence of pathologic processes in the graft tissue. Because of potential complications, epikeratoplasty should be considered only for those patients who are unsuitable candidates for contact lenses or penetrating keratoplasty.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Maryland, Baltimore.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nirankari
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rajagopalan
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Funderburgh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002921:Cicatrix; D003315:Cornea / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000378:metabolism; D016039:Corneal Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000473:pathology*; D003871:Dermatan Sulfate / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D007632:Keratan Sulfate / Q000378:metabolism; D007640:Keratoconus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012086:Reoperation; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D003871:Dermatan Sulfate; D007632:Keratan Sulfate