Low-dose ultraviolet-B irradiation of donor corneal endothelium and graft survival

Journal Article · Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1990 · Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science; (USA)

OSTI ID:6168180

Dana, M R; Olkowski, S T; Ahmadian, H; Stark, W J; Young, E M ^[1]

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1. Wilmer Eye Institute, Baltimore, MD (USA)

Donor rabbit corneal endothelium was pretreated with different doses of ultraviolet (UV-B) irradiation (302 nm) before grafting to test whether allograft survival could be favorably affected in comparison with untreated corneas grafted into the same recipients. Endothelial rejection was observed in 19 of 32 (59%) eyes that received no treatment compared with five of 32 (16%) eyes that received UV-B (P less than 0.001), and increasing doses of UV-B were associated with lower rejection rates (P less than 0.05). Although exposure of donor endothelium significantly reduced endothelial rejection at all doses tested, it resulted in primary graft failure in a substantial proportion of corneas treated at high doses. Class II (Ia) antigen staining of corneal tissue was present in conjunction with clinical evidence of rejection, and the magnitude of staining correlated with the histologic extent of inflammation. Scanning electron microscopy revealed various endothelial cell surface irregularities and membrane defects in high-dose UV-treated corneas. Endothelial cell cultures exposed in vitro to UV-B light showed a dose-dependent loss in cell viability. These data suggest that UV-B pretreatment of donor corneal endothelium prolongs graft survival but that toxic side effects must be carefully controlled.

• OSTI ID: 6168180
• Journal Information: Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science; (USA), Vol. 31:11; ISSN 0146-0404
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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