Observation on the efficacy of Tacrolimus eye drops for preventing rejection after high-risk corneal transplantation

Abstract

Objective To observe the efficacy of Tacrolimus eye drops for preventing rejection after treatment of high-risk penetrating keratoplasty in patients with poor response to Cyclosporin A eye drops. Methods The data of 10 eyes of 9 patients with high-risk penetrating keratoplasty from Apr. 2008 to Jun. 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. Cyclosporine A eye drops were applied after the first penetrating keratoplasty. Five eyes were treated with Tacrolimus eye drops after secondary penetrating keratoplasty, and the other 5 eyes were treated with Cyclosporine A eye drops. Results Ten eyes were followed up for (41.70±8.53) months after corneal transplantating, rejection happened in 9 eyes(90.00%) . All eyes underwent penetrating keratoplasty due to grafts opacification. Five eyes were treated with Tacrolimus eye drops and followed up for (16.00±2.68) months. The rejection occurred in 2 eyes(40.00%). The other 5 eyes were treated with Cyclosporin A and followed up for (36.20±7.95) months. The rejection rate was 100.00%. After treatment of Tacrolimus eye drops, the grafts of 5 eyes were transparent and followed up for (13.40±3.17) months. In the follow-up period, rejection occurred in 1 eye(20.00%). Conclusion Tacrolimus eye drops is applied for preventing rejection in high-risk keratoplasty patients with poor response to Cyclosporin A eye drops, most patients can get better anti-immune rejection effects. Key words: Keratoplasty, penetrating; Eye drops, Tacrolimus; Rejection, immune; Efficacy