Effect of lamellar keratoplasty time on the production of serum specific antibody in corneal alkali burns

Abstract

To observe the production of serum specific anti-denatured corneal antibody and the effects of lamellar keratoplasty on changes of corneal histopathology in different stages after alkali burns. 20 male New Zealand rabbits, with alkali burns in right eye were randomly divided into 5 groups including: burned group; 2 early lamellar keratoplasty group (operation at 3 or 7 days post alkali burns respectively); 2 middle and later lamellar keratoplasty groups (operation at 2 or 5 weeks after alkali burns respectively). The level of serum specific antibody in each group was detected by ELISA and the corneal structure was evaluated by light and electron microscopy in different stages after alkali burns. The anti-denatured corneal antibody was induced after corneal alkali burns. The level of antibody significantly increased at 2th week post, peaking burn at 5 or 6th week, then decreasing. More antibodies were detected when contralateral eye was burn at 8 week post first burn. However, only slight increasing antibody was detected in early lamellar keratoplasty group. Furthermore, no significant changes of antibody production were observed in middle and later lamellar keratoplasty group. The light and electron microscopic analysis showed that, the corneal epithelium recovered better, the fibre of corneal stroma arranged better, inflammatory cells infiltrated less and neovascularization formed less in lamellar keratoplasty groups comparing to the burned group. The early lamellar keratoplasty groups recovered better than in middle and later lamellar keratoplasty groups. Early lamellar keratoplasty after corneal alkali burns can significantly decrease the immune response. Histopathological data also indicate that early lamellar keratoplasty can improve the tissue regeneration and recovery, prevent topical inflammatory reaction, and abate corneal neovascularization. This study suggests that early lamellar keratoplasty is more effective than the conservative treatment.