The Effect of Immunological and Non-immunological Factors on Corneal Graft Survival: A Single Centre Study

A longterm follow-up study of 19 patients who received 22 corneal grafts between 1939 and 1948 from eyes containing a malignant choroidal melanoma revealed no evidence for the transmission of tumour cells by corneal transplantation. A negative effect on the life expectancies of the recipients of this donor material could not be established, nevertheless the use of such corneal grafts is not advised because of poorer graft survival when compared to the survival of grafts from other sources. \* For colour plates, see pp. 72ff CHAPTER 4 Survival of 44 corneal grafts obtained from eyes enucleated because of malignant choroidal melanoma \* Summary Amilysis of the survival of corneal grafts obtained from eyes enucleated because of malignant choroidal melanoma and of grafts from donors deceased of systemic malignancies revealed a large excess of graft failures in the malignant choroidal melanoma groups (OJ E= 1.454) as compared to the systemic malignancies group (OjE=O.857). When only HLA-A and -8 well matched donor-recipient pairs in both groups were studied again a large excess of graft failures was observed in the malignant choroidal melanoma group (OjE=1.381) as compared to the systemic malignancies group (OJ E=O.564). The poor graft survival of grafts obtained from eyes enucleated because of malignant choroidal melanoma was due to an increased number of irreversible rejections. This number was significantly different from the number of irreversible rejections observed in grafts from donors deceased of systemic malignancies (p=O.03). Front Matter....Pages I-VII Introduction....Pages 1-11 Statistical methods....Pages 13-20 Front Matter....Pages 21-21 Longterm follow-up study of 19 patients who received 22 corneal grafts between 1939 and 1948 from eyes enucleated because of malignant choroidal melanoma....Pages 23-30 Survival of 44 corneal grafts obtained from eyes enucleated because of malignant choroidal melanoma....Pages 31-40 Front Matter....Pages 41-41 Different influences on corneal graft survival in 539 transplants....Pages 43-56 The effect of prospective HLA-A and -B matching on corneal graft survival....Pages 57-67 The interactions of HLA-DR, donor graft size and corneal vascularisation of the recipient on graft survival....Pages 69-95 Keratoplasty in children....Pages 97-110 The influence of intraocular lenses on corneal graft survival in patients with endothelial decompensation....Pages 111-122 The effect of prospective HLA-A and -B matching in 288 penetrating keratoplasties for herpes simplex keratitis....Pages 123-132 Front Matter....Pages 133-133 HLA-A and -B antigens in recurrent corneal herpes simplex virus infection....Pages 135-139 HLA-DR antigens in recurrent corneal herpes simplex virus infection....Pages 141-142 HLA and ABO antigens in keratoconus patients....Pages 143-149 HLA and ABO antigens in patients with Fuchs’ endothelial dystrophy....Pages 151-154 HLA and ABO antigens in patients with malignant choroidal melanoma....Pages 155-165 Summary and general discussion....Pages 167-171 Back Matter....Pages 173-174