Systemic cyclosporin A in high risk penetrating keratoplasties: a case-control study

Aim-To examine the efficacy of systemic cyclosporin A (CSA) in preventing r ejection and graft failure in high risk keratoplasty (PK). Methods-A retrospective case-control study with 49 patients in both the CSA group and the control group. The patients receiving CSA were at high risk of graft rejection and failure. Controls were identified from surgical audi t books and had high risk characteristics. Results-There was no statistical difference in preoperative risk factors an d the use of postoperative topical steroids between the two groups. The med ian follow up in the CSA group was 22 months and 27 months in the control g roup. One or more rejection episodes occurred in IS out of 49 (36.7%) cases in the CSA group and 26 out of 49 (53.1%) in the control group. Graft fail ure from all causes occurred in 16 (32.7%) CSA patients and 18 (36.7%) cont rol patients. Four (8.2%) of the CSA group compared to eight (16.3%) in the control group failed because of rejection, 22 (44.9%) out of 49 patients i n the CSA group had side effects. In five (10.2%) patients, CSA was stopped because of the side effects; eight patients had elevated serum urea and cr eatinine and four developed hypertension. Minor side effects reported inclu de gum hyperplasia, increased sweating, backache, nausea, feeling unwell, o ral candidiasis, cramps, and paraesthesia of the extremities. Conclusion-These results suggest that the benefit of CSA over conventional therapy in preventing rejection episodes and subsequent graft failure is on ly moderate and did not reach statistically significant levels in this stud y. Considering the high frequency of side effects and the cost of CSA, a ra ndomised control trial may be necessary to determine the true value of CSA in high risk penetrating keratoplasty.