Correlation analysis of reject reaction and corneal endothelial cells after penetrating keratoplasty from donation after cardiac death

AIM: To study the relativity between reject reaction from donation after cardiac death(DCD)and corneal endothelial cell source of corneal graft after penetrating keratoplasty.METHODS:Totally 28 cases of corneal graft rejection after penetrating keratoplasty with cardiac death donor cornea were analyzed using corneal endothelial microscope at less than 1mo, 2-3mo, 4-6mo, 7-12mo after operation.RESULTS:Coefficient variation of corneal endothelial cell of the 28 cases at less than 1mo,2-3mo, 4-6mo and 7-12mo were 38.23%, 49.56%, 57.18%, 65.04%. Corneal endothelial cell density were 2071.15±311.47, 1771.33±348.18, 1626.59±353.92, 1553.14±307.31. The coefficient variation of corneal endothelial cells was positively correlated with rejection(r=0.95, Pr=-0.93, PCONCLUSION: The corneal endothelial cell coefficient variation increased gradually and the corneal endothelial cell density decreased gradually after DCD corneal allograft rejection. Corneal endothelial cell coefficient variation and corneal endothelial cell density can be used as indicators of early detection of postoperative rejection.