OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between the grafts transparency and the endothelial immune rejection at different periods after penetrating keratoplasty (PKP).METHODS: A following-up was performed on patients received PKP in Shandong Eye Institute and Hospital between January 1994 and December 1998. A total of 648 cases (648 eyes) were involved in this study, including 444 males (444 eyes) and 204 females (204 eyes). The incidence of endothelial immune rejection and grafts opacification at the time point of 0.5, 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36 and 48 months postoperatively was collected. We made two curves to study the relationship between transparence of grafts and endothelial rejection. Relationship between the endothelial immune rejection and the types of corneal diseases before the operation was also analyzed.RESULTS: There was a significant relationship between grafts opacification and the endothelial immune rejection (linear regression and simple correlation, P < 0.01). The rate of rejection decreased after 3 years postoperatively. Inflammatory background was an important factor for the occurrence of endothelial immune rejection and graft opacification.CONCLUSIONS: After PKP, endothelial immune rejection is the critical factor for affecting the grafts transparency. Long-term follow-up of the patients is important for the maintaining of transparency of grafts and to obtain a successful result of the operation.
Adolescent Adult