Influence of interleukin-1alpha and tumor necrosis factor-alpha production on corneal graft survival.

AIM: To determine pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion from human corneas with different pathology and to establish whether cytokine profile influences corneal graft outcome. METHOD: Secretion of both proinflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-1alpha and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha was measured after cultivation of 47 corneas collected from corneal graft recipients suffering from different corneal diseases. Non-inflammatory corneal diseases were keratoconus (n=8), keratoglobus (n=2), bullous keratopathy (n=11), and Groenouw stromal dystrophy type II (n=2), whereas inflammatory included vascularized corneal scar (n=14), rejected graft (n=6), and corneal ulcer (n=4). Corneas were cultivated at 37 degrees C for 24 hours and frozen until cytokine detection was measured by immunoassay. Donor corneas unsuitable for transplantation were used as controls (n=7). Corneal graft recipients were followed at least 18 months and rejection rate was calculated for each group. RESULTS: The median concentration of IL-1alpha secreted from corneas of recipients with non-inflammatory diseases was 2.47 pg/mm(3) (range, 0.13-9.95). In inflammatory corneal diseases, IL-1alpha concentration was significantly higher (median, 5.92 pg/mm(3); range, 0.48-12.68; P=0.005). IL-1alpha production in controls (median, 0.63 pg/mm3; range, 0.36-1.29 pg/mm(3)) was significantly lower than in inflammatory corneal diseases (P<0.001) and non-inflammatory diseases (P=0.008). Low level of TNF-alpha was detected only in 5 cases of vascularized corneal scars, 3 cases of bullous keratopathy, and 3 cases of graft rejection. Rejection rate was significantly higher in inflammatory than in non-inflammatory group (46% vs <10%, respectively, P=0.008). IL-1alpha and TNF-alpha were absent from all patient's sera, confirming its local intra-ocular production. CONCLUSION: Increased production of IL-1alpha in corneal recipients with inflammatory diseases suggests its role in corneal graft rejection in humans.

[Effect of viscoelasticity on corneal endothelial cell loss in phacoemulsification]. / Utjecaj viskoelastika na gubitak endotelnih stanica roznice pri fakoemulzifikaciji.

UNLABELLED: One of the most important factors for successful intraocular surgery is deep anterior chamber which is maintained using viscoelastics that protect corneal endothelial cells. This single endothelial cell layer may sustain a varying degree of injury during surgery and is known to be incapable of regeneration. THE AIM: Of the study was to determine optimal visoelastics for the protection of corneal endothelial cells during phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A series of 156 patients were included in this prospective study. Patients were randomly assigned to three groups based on the type of viscoelastics used. In the first group, 1.4% sodium hyaluronate, in the second group a combination of 4% sodium chondroitin sulfate and 3% sodium hyaluronate, and in the third group 3% hyaluronate was used. Endothelial cell count and morphology changes were determined centrally with a specular microscope on the day before, on day 7 and one month after surgery. Intraocular pressure was measured before surgery, and at 6 hours, 24 hours, 7 days and 30 days of the surgery. Pachymetry as a measure of "endothelial pump" function was evaluated before surgery and 7 and 30 days postoperatively. All surgeries were performed by two surgeons using the same technique. RESULTS: Endothelial cell loss was lowest (16.1%) in the eyes protected with a combination of 4% sodium chondroitin sulfate and 3% sodium hyaluronate. In the groups where 1.4% sodium hyaluronate and 3% hylunorate were used, the loss was 7.6%; and 7.9%, respectively. Although endothelial cell loss was not significantly different among the three groups, the lowest morphology change rate recorded in group 2 suggested that a combination of chondroitin and hyaluronate offered the best endothelial protection. There was no statistically significant difference in the postoperative intraocular pressure increase and pachymetry values among the study groups.