[Major indications for corneal penetrating keratoplasty at a reference service in São Paulo state (Sorocaba - SP, Brazil)].
OBJECTIVE
To identify the main indications for corneal transplantation, analyze the results and provide demographic and epidemiological profile of patients referred to the Corneal Transplantation Project.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis, from June to December 2003, of patients referred to the Corneal Transplantation Project.


RESULTS
Total of 171 patients. One hundred and two (59.6%) patients were male and 69 (40.3%) female; mean age was 37 years. One hundred and six (49%) patients had indication for corneal transplantation. The origins of patients were: São Paulo (68%), Minas Gerais (6%), Paraná (6%), Rio de Janeiro (5%), Maranhão (3%) and others (12%). The main indications: keratoconus 65%, pseudophakic bullous keratopathy 21%, corneal scarring 10%, Fuchs dystrophy 1.9%, lattice dystrophy 0.9% and Stevens-Johnson syndrome 0.9%.


CONCLUSIONS
Many patients referred to corneal transplantation had no indication for such procedure. This fact demonstrates the poor knowledge of general ophthalmologists about the real indications of penetrating keratoplasty. Keratoconus was the major indication followed by pseudophakic bullous keratopathy.
Calix Netto
Miguel José
MJ
Hospital Oftalmológico de Sorocaba - HOS, Sorocaba, SP, Brasil. vandotte@hotmail.com
Giustina
Eduardo Della
ED
Ramos
Gabriel Zatti
GZ
Peccini
Rodrigo Favoretto Cañas
RF
Sobrinho
Marcelo
M
de Souza
Luciene Barbosa
LB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D000075202:Contraindications; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D016039:Corneal Transplantation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007640:Keratoconus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014850:Waiting Lists