Histopathological Study of Delayed Regraft After Corneal Graft Failure

Purpose: To evaluate the histopathological features of corneal graft failures over time.Methods: A single-center retrospective analysis was performed on corneal specimens diagnosed as corneal graft failure retrieved from the Henry C. Witelson Ophthalmic Pathology Laboratory and Registry (Montreal, Canada) over a 9-year period. the corneal buttons were divided into 3 different groups according to the time between the diagnosis of corneal graft failure and regraft. Corneal specimens obtained during keratoplasty were subjected to hematoxylin and eosin and periodic acid-Schiff. Five different histopathological findings were evaluated in each specimen.Results: Overall, the most common histopathological finding was endothelial decompensation (97.2%). Subepithelial pannus (38.9%), vessels in the corneal stroma (11.1%), and anterior synechiae (2.8%) were the other present findings. the inflammatory reaction was considered discrete in 83.3% of the cases. the only significant histopathological finding correlated with time was the presence of vessels in the corneal stroma (P = 0.0092).Conclusions: Corneal neovascularization, represented by the presence of vessels in the corneal stroma, was the only histopathological finding correlated with time. Because it is a known factor of poor prognosis, our findings strongly support that early regraft has higher chances of success.McGill Univ, Ctr Hlth, Dept Ophthalmol & Pathol, Montreal, PQ, CanadaHenry C Witelson Ocular Pathol Lab, Montreal, PQ, CanadaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP EPM, Dept Ophthalmol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP EPM, Dept Ophthalmol, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc