Endothelial cell density after descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty: 1- to 2-year follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate donor endothelial cell density (ECD) after Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK).


METHODS
Nonrandomized, prospective clinical study.


METHODS
From a larger group of patients who underwent DMEK for Fuchs endothelial dystrophy or pseudophakic bullous keratopathy, complete ECD measurements were available of 26 patients with 6 and 12 months of follow-up, of whom 7 also had 24 months of follow-up.


RESULTS
For the group with 24 months of follow-up, ECD averaged 2700 (+/- 260) cells/mm(2) before surgery, 2200 (+/- 460) cells/mm(2) at 6 months after surgery, 2050 (+/- 330) cells/mm(2) at 12 months after surgery, and 1780 (+/- 390) cells/mm(2) at 24 months after surgery. For the group with 12 months of follow-up, ECD averaged 2620 (+/- 210) cells/mm(2) before surgery, 1850 (+/- 540) cells/mm(2) at 6 months after surgery, and 1680 (+/- 550) cells/mm(2) at 12 months after surgery. In both groups, the ECD decreased significantly between the preoperative and 6-month measurement (P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
Similar to earlier endothelial keratoplasty techniques, DMEK may be associated with a decrease in donor ECD of approximately 25% in the early postoperative phase.
Ham
Lisanne
L
Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Melles Cornea Clinic, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
van Luijk
Chantal
C
Dapena
Isabel
I
Wong
Tse H
TH
Birbal
Rénuka
R
van der Wees
Jacqueline
J
Melles
Gerrit R J
GR
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002452:Cell Count; D002470:Cell Survival; D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D003886:Descemet Membrane / Q000601:surgery*; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005642:Fuchs' Endothelial Dystrophy / Q000601:surgery; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014019:Tissue Donors