HLA-B 12 and HLA-B 27 antigens and susceptibility to the corneal allograft reaction.

Our series comprised 100 penetrating corneal transplantations: 36 cases with HLA-B 12 and/or B 27 antigen in the recipient and, as controls, 64 cases without these antigens. The cornea was vascular in 44% of the HLA-B 12/B 27 group and in 40% of the controls. In the HLA-B 12/B 27 group AR developed in 13 of 36 cases, 36%; but in the control group only in one case (2%).

Corneal transplantation reaction in avascular keratoconus patients due to HLA-associated immune aberration against infection. A hypothesis.

HLA-B12 and HLA-B27 appeared to be characteristic of avascular keratoconus patients at risk of developing a corneal allograft reaction, which was mainly of late type and triggered by a nasopharyngeal infection. Equally incompatible grafts to patients with HLA-B5 had an uneventful course. This may be inference to the role of HLA-associated immune resistance factors, which necessitate the search for histocompatible corneal grafts also for avascular recipients bearing such indicators of risk.

HLA-compatible donor cornea for prevention of allograft reaction.

Our series comprises 80 penetrating grafts. Of the recipient corneas 36 were vascularized. Of the donor corneas 48 were fresh and 32 were cryopreserved.

Excision of the donor cornea instead of enucleation.

Shortage of corneal grafts is common in many countries. The method presented here has been developed to relieve this situation and make it easier, especially from the psychological point of view, to obtain a license for excising corneas from cadavers. An 11 mm.