Outcomes of keratolimbal allograft from ABO compatible donors for severe bilateral limbal stem cell deficiency.

Abstract

To report outcomes of keratolimbal allograft (KLAL) compatible for both human leukocyte (HLA) and/or blood type using oral prednisone, mycophenolate, and tacrolimus, with basiliximab if panel reactive antibodies (PRA) are present. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) was used post-operatively if donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies (DSA) were present. Retrospective interventional series of consecutive patients with KLAL for limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) from HLA and/or blood type compatible deceased donors with a minimum follow-up time of 12 months. Main outcome measures were ocular surface stability, visual acuity and systemic immunosuppression (SI) adverse events. Eight eyes of eight patients with mean age of 48.6±10.1 years (range 34-65 years) were included. Mean follow-up time was 37.3±22.7 months (range 12-71 months) following KLAL; four (50%) had combined LR-CLAL surgery. The etiologies of LSCD were Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (n=4/8), aniridia (n=2/8), chemical injury (n=1/8) and atopic eye disease (n=1/8). All patients had PRA present and received basiliximab infusions. 5/8 patients received IVIG based on DSA identified pre-operatively. At last follow-up, 7 eyes (87.5%) had a stable ocular surface; 1 eye (12.5%) developed failure and had keratoprosthesis implantation. There was a significant improvement in visual acuity from 1.65±0.48 to 0.68±0.34 logMAR (p=0.01). SI was tolerated well with minimal adverse events. Preliminary outcomes of KLAL with ABO compatible tissue using the Cincinnati protocol, preoperative basiliximab (when PRA present) and post-operative IVIG (when DSA present) are encouraging. This protocol may allow for utilization of deceased donor tissue with results approximating those of living donor tissue transplanted for severe bilateral LSCD.