title: The outcome of corneal transplantation versus indications in a tertiary eye care center in Ethiopia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The outcome of PKP depends on several factors, mainly on its indications. Understanding the causes of graft failure may help to reduce the risk of failure. This study was designed to analyze and compare the long term outcomes of PKP for the different indications in our set up.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the graft survival and visual outcome of full thickness corneal transplantation with respect to its indications at a tertiary eye care center in Ethiopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis was done on all patients who underwent full thickness corneal transplantation at Menilik II hospital during a 5 year period from January 1st, 2001 to December 30. 2006.
  
  
  RESULTS
  111 cases completed their two years of follow-up at the time of study. The most common indication for penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) was post-inflammatory corneal opacity in 54/111 (48.6%) followed by keratoconus in 25 (22.5%) cases. The over all graft survival rate at two years was 76.6%. Keratoconus having the most favorable survival rate of 92%, to be followed by corneal dystrophy, (81.8%). Pre-operative corneal vascularization and anterior adherent leukoma corneas (AALK) have been shown to be significantly associated with higher risk of graft failure (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results show that PKP has a very good outcome for keratoconus and corneal dystrophies. Corneal vascularization and AALK is associated with higher incidence of graft failure. Preoperative patient selection and ensuring conmpliance is shown to be essential.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa.
authors.forename: Yonas
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tilahun
authors.forename: Dereje
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shimelash
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000209:etiology*; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity; D055815:Young Adult