EMERGENCE OF CORNEA GUTTATA IN DONOR TISSUE - A CAUSE OF LATE GRAFT FAILURE

Analysis of 321 failed full-thickness corneal transplant specimens sub mitted for histopathological examination over a 10-year period has ide ntified 10 instances in which the defect appeared to have been caused by the development of cornea guttata in the donor tissue. The primary condition necessitating keratoplasty in 5 of the 10 patients was Fuchs ' endothelial dystrophy but, given the limited capacity of corneal end othelium for regeneration, it is considered unlikely that the defect i n the grafts represented a recurrence. In 7 of 8 cases for which the d uration of graft survival was known the endothelial disorder presented as a long-term event and it is assumed that the condition was not pre sent at the time of the keratoplasty. The rare emergence of Fuchs' dys trophy in donor transplant tissue should be added to the potential cau ses of late graft failure.