Corneal Graft Rejection after Descemet’s Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty with Peripheral Anterior Synechiae

Abstract

Descemet’s membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) for patients with corneal endothelial loss rarely results in graft rejection. Herein, we report a rare case of graft rejection following DMEK, in which peripheral anterior synechiae were observed postoperatively. A 66-year-old woman was referred to our hospital after complaints of decreased visual acuity of her right eye after laser iridotomy for primary angle closure 3 years earlier. Her right cornea had bullous keratopathy with mild cataract, and her best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/40. After cataract surgery, DMEK was successfully performed, except for development of peripheral anterior synechiae at the temporal cornea. Her BCVA recovered to 20/20. However, when topical instillation was changed to 0.1% fluorometholone from 0.1% betamethasone once a day, corneal edema reappeared with hyperemia, mutton fat keratic precipitates (KPs), and cells in the anterior chamber. The BCVA worsened to 20/32. Graft rejection was diagnosed, and subconjunctival injection of dexamethasone was performed 3 times, once every few days, with 0.1% topical betamethasone instillation. Subsequently, the hyperemia, mutton fat KPs, and cells in the anterior chamber disappeared with a recovered BCVA of 20/20 after 2 weeks. Ten months after graft rejection, there was no recurrence of intraocular inflammation, and only topical betamethasone was administered twice daily. It is important to exercise caution in cases with peripheral anterior synechiae after DMEK. Long-term steroid administration is necessary to prevent graft rejection.

Risk Factors for Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty Rejection: Current Perspectives- Systematic Review

“…Frank or subclinical graft rejection or hypertensive uveitis also pose a challenge. 13 Typically, graft failure does not show any evidence of AC inflammation or keratic precipitates on endothelium and is a normotensive process. Viral endotheliitis is another important differential diagnosis of DMEK graft rejection.…”