Recurrence of corneal stromal dystrophies after penetrating keratoplasty.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the rates of simple and clinically significant recurrences of stromal dystrophies in corneal grafts.


METHODS
We conducted a retrospective review of Wills Eye Hospital records from 1984 to 2001, identifying all patients with stromal corneal dystrophies who had penetrating keratoplasties. Kaplan-Meier curves and chi analysis were performed.


RESULTS
The study population consisted of 35 eyes (21 patients) with lattice dystrophy, 17 eyes (10 patients) with corneal dystrophy of Bowman's membrane (CDB), 14 eyes (eight patients) with macular dystrophy, seven eyes (five patients) with granular dystrophy, and four eyes (four patients) diagnosed with Schnyder's crystalline dystrophy. There was a simple recurrence in 21 (60%) eyes (14 patients) with lattice and in 15 (88%) eyes (eight patients) with CDB. The median time to simple recurrence for the first eye transplanted of each patient was 8.4 years for lattice and 2.0 years for CDB. After 5 years of follow-up, there was a clinically significant recurrence, manifested by recurrent erosions or associated with decreased visual acuity, in the first eye transplanted of each patient, respectively, in six (17.1%) and seven (20%) eyes with lattice and in two (11.8%) and three (17.6%) eyes with CDB.


CONCLUSIONS
Corneal dystrophy of Bowman's membrane has the highest rate of simple recurrence followed by granular and lattice dystrophies, respectively. However, the rate of clinically significant recurrence, both recurrent erosions and decreased visual acuity, in the first 5 years is similar in CDB and lattice dystrophies. Recurrence is infrequent in macular and Schnyder's crystalline dystrophy. As expected, in genetic diseases, the potential for recurrence exists and increases with follow-up time.
Marcon
Alexandre S
AS
Cornea Service, Wills Eye Hospital, Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Cohen
Elisabeth J
EJ
Rapuano
Christopher J
CJ
Laibson
Peter R
PR
D003317:Corneal Dystrophies, Hereditary / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity