Histopathological study of delayed regraft after corneal graft failure.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the histopathological features of corneal graft failures over time.


METHODS
A single-center retrospective analysis was performed on corneal specimens diagnosed as corneal graft failure retrieved from The Henry C. Witelson Ophthalmic Pathology Laboratory and Registry (Montreal, Canada) over a 9-year period. The corneal buttons were divided into 3 different groups according to the time between the diagnosis of corneal graft failure and regraft. Corneal specimens obtained during keratoplasty were subjected to hematoxylin and eosin and periodic acid-Schiff. Five different histopathological findings were evaluated in each specimen.


RESULTS
Overall, the most common histopathological finding was endothelial decompensation (97.2%). Subepithelial pannus (38.9%), vessels in the corneal stroma (11.1%), and anterior synechiae (2.8%) were the other present findings. The inflammatory reaction was considered discrete in 83.3% of the cases. The only significant histopathological finding correlated with time was the presence of vessels in the corneal stroma (P = 0.0092).


CONCLUSIONS
Corneal neovascularization, represented by the presence of vessels in the corneal stroma, was the only histopathological finding correlated with time. Because it is a known factor of poor prognosis, our findings strongly support that early regraft has higher chances of success.
Santos
Leonardo N
LN
Department of Ophthalmology and Pathology, The McGill University Health Center & Henry C. Witelson Ocular Pathology Laboratory, Montreal, Canada. leonnsantos@gmail.com
de Moura
Leticia Rielo
LR
Fernandes
Bruno F
BF
Cheema
Devinder P
DP
Burnier
Miguel N
MN
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors