title: Endothelial morphology in long-term keratoconus corneal transplants.
abstract: Endothelial morphology was studied in 55 long-term keratoconus grafts. Photographs were taken with a Zeiss non-contact endothelial lens and analyzed with a Zeiss MOP-3 digital analyzer. Donor ages were known in 39 cases. Statistical analysis was carried out correlating endothelial cell count with several parameters, including recipient age and cell form as expressed by the coefficient of variation. Cell counts varied from 502 to 1708 cells/mm2. No correlation between cell counts and donor age was found. Recipient age  had an unexpected significance as a predictor of endothelial cell survival in that cell counts decreased as recipient age increased despite donor age. As the grafts aged, more cell pleomorphism was found as expressed by the coefficient of variation.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D004727:Endothelium; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D007640:Keratoconus / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged