[Indications for penetrating keratoplasty in Pernambuco].
OBJECTIVE
The indications for penetrating keratoplasty (PK) vary in different regions of Brazil. Keratoconus is the main indication in the state of São Paulo. However, in the state of Amazonas the main indication is ulcerative conditions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the indications for PK in two reference centers of ophthalmology in the state of Pernambuco. The possible frequency differences in PK indications were also analyzed regarding other Brazilian states and other countries.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis of the records of 814 patients who underwent PK at the "Fundação Altino Ventura", and "Hospital de Olhos de Pernambuco" from January 1998 to December 2002 was performed.


RESULTS
The leading indications for PK were ulcerative conditions (21.3%), bullous keratopathy (19.9%), keratoconus (18.6%) and corneal scarring (17.8%). In 2001 the frequency of the PK indications was altered by the high frequency of regraft. This happened because of a programmed recall of these patients by the Pernambuco Transplantation Center.


CONCLUSIONS
There were no significant differences between the frequencies of the leading indications during the period of study. On the other hand, the frequencies of those indications were different from those of other centers. It should be stressed that Pernambuco and Amazonas states show greater frequencies of ulcerative conditions, not similar to other centers. This fact is associated with poverty in these states.
Amaral
Cristiane de Sá Rodrigues
Cde S
Fundação Altino Ventura, Recife, PE.
Duarte
João Yure
JY
Silva
Pedro Leonardo Soriano da
PL
Valbuena
Roberto
R
Cunha
Fernando
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies