title: Effect of postmortem interval on the graft endothelium during preservation and after transplantation for keratoconus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of postmortem intervals and prognostic factors on endothelial cell density (ECD) of human donor corneas during preservation and at 1 and 3 years after transplantation in patients transplanted for keratoconus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two different studies were performed: (1) with 733 donor corneas selected for the preservation study and (2) 64 patients with keratoconus selected retrospectively from 2 hospital clinics. The corneas were evaluated on the basis of the ECD during preservation, study A, and at 1 and 3 years after transplantation, study B. The effect of ≥ 10 hours of postmortem interval on the percentage of corneal endothelial cell loss (ECL) was determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The multiple regression showed no statistical significance (P = 0.827) of postmortem interval on ECL during preservation. However, for patients with keratoconus, the postmortem interval was statistically significant at both 1 year (P < 0.0001) and 3 years after transplantation (P < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The postmortem interval has no influence on the ECD during preservation. However, it has a statistically significant effect on the ECL after transplantation for patients transplanted for keratoconus, and therefore, it becomes eligible to be one of the potential factors affecting the ECD apart from surgical trauma.
authors.affiliation: The Veneto Eye Bank Foundation, Venice, Italy. mohit.parekh@fbov.it
authors.forename: Mohit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parekh
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Salvalaio
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Anna C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Frigo
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Griffoni
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grassetto
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruzza
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Camposampiero
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ponzin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001344:Autopsy; D002423:Cause of Death; D002452:Cell Count; D003315:Cornea; D055954:Corneal Endothelial Cell Loss / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D015925:Cryopreservation; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007640:Keratoconus / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009926:Organ Preservation; D011184:Postoperative Period; D057234:Preoperative Period; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014019:Tissue Donors; D016896:Treatment Outcome