title: The effect of prospective HLA-A and -B matching in 288 penetrating keratoplasties for herpes simplex keratitis.
abstract: A retrospective review of 288 penetrating keratoplasties (PKP) for herpes simplex keratitis demonstrated a 60.4% survival rate of clear grafts at 3 years. A highly significant difference in corneal graft survival in severely vascularized corneas (57.1% at 3 years) versus non- or slightly vascularized corneas (82.8% at 3 years) was observed (P = 0.009). Prospectively HLA-A and -B matched grafts in vascularized corneas revealed a significantly improved graft survival when compared to unmatched grafts (P = 0.035). Corneal graft survival in eyes grafted 'à chaud' was not significantly below the graft survival of vascularized corneas with a clinically non-active herpetic corneal disease. Recurrence of herpes simplex in the graft was observed in an earlier postoperative period in HLA-A and -B matched grafts (P = 0.0004).
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003315:Cornea / Q000098:blood supply / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006085:Graft Survival; D006680:HLA Antigens; D015234:HLA-A Antigens; D015235:HLA-B Antigens; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D007635:Keratitis, Dendritic / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D015234:HLA-A Antigens; D015235:HLA-B Antigens