Circulating antibodies to human and bovine cornea in human keratoplasty

PURPOSE. TO compare anti-human cornea and anti-bovine cornea serum reactivi ty in corneal transplantation and pathology. METHODS. We investigated the presence of IgG and IgM antibodies to bovine c orneal extract (BCE) and human corneal extract (HCE) by ELISA in 48 healthy adults and in 30 corneal allograft recipients before and after grafting. B aseline levels of antibodies in healthy controls served to establish a posi tivity threshold. Anti-HLA antibodies were investigated in all patients. RESULTS. Preoperatively, five and one patient were positive respectively fo r IgG and IgM anti-BCE; one and ten patients were positive for IgG and IgM anti-HCE. The presence or absence of antibodies was not modified after graf ting, and was not associated with rejection. Anti-HCE of the IgM class were more frequent in patients with keratoconus. Two patients had anti-HLA anti bodies. CONCLUSIONS. Antibodies to non-HLA corneal antigens are detectable in corne al allograft recipients. Reactions against bovine and human substrates diff er in frequency and class. This reactivity is not modified after grafting o r rejection, but is increased in corneal disorders, including keratoconus.