title: [Follow-up of endothelial cell density after perforating keratoplasty. Effect of donor and recipient-related factors].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Endothelial cell loss can be observed after keratoplasty, therefore in a retrospective study we analysed whether there is a correlation between donor age, recipient age, time post-mortem, preoperative cell density, diagnosis of the recipient and postoperative endothelial cell density.
  
  
  METHODS
  The endothelial cell densities of 120 patients who had undergone penetrating keratoplasty were examined over a period of 2 years. We divided the patients into four groups based on the endothelial cell density over 2 years. We examined the groups with regard to the parameters given above.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The lowest postoperative cell densities 2 years after keratoplasty showed a high correlation with the highest donor and recipient age. Even the lowest preoperative cell density was found in this group. Patients who underwent keratoplasty because of keratoconus had the highest cell densities after 2 years and also the lowest donor and recipient age. The preoperative cell density was also highest in this group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate a correlation between increasing donor and recipient age, decreasing preoperative cell density and loss of endothelial cells 2 years after penetrating keratoplasty. Patients with the diagnosis keratoconus should also receive transplants with higher donor age.
authors.affiliation: Universitäts-Augenklinik Hamburg-Eppendorf.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Uphoff
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bednarz
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Engelmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002452:Cell Count; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014019:Tissue Donors