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Abstract

PURPOSE: Keratoconus presents certain peculiarities in pediatric patients when compared with adults. The greatest challenge in children is that the disease is more severe and faster in progression. In this retrospective study, we aimed to compare the accelerated and Dresden protocols for corneal crosslinking in patients aged <18 years who were followed-up for at least 12 months.
METHODS: A total of 36 eyes from 27 patients were included in the study. The best corrected and uncorrected visual acuity, maximal keratometry, corneal thickness, foveal thickness, and endothelial microscopy findings were evaluated at baseline and during the postoperative period at one, three, and six months. Thereafter, the patients were evaluated at one, three, six and twelve months postoperative. Corneal crosslinking was performed in all patients via the Dresden protocol (n=21 eyes) or the accelerated protocol (n=15 eyes). Data between the two groups were compared and XY statistical analysis was used.
RESULTS: Both protocols were effective in halting keratoconus progression. No patient had progression at the 12-month follow-up. A significant reduction in Kmax and improvement in the corrected distance visual acuity were observed only in the Dresden protocol group. Although the Dresden protocol was superior to the accelerated protocol in reducing Kmax (p=0.002), there was no significant difference in corrected distance visual acuity between the two groups.
CONCLUSION: The accelerated protocol is as efficient as the Dresden protocol in stabilizing keratoconus progression. Although the Dresden protocol was superior to the accelerated protocol in reducing the Kmax, it did not produce better clinical results. Thus, the accelerated protocol is an efficient option. Furthermore, considering the advantages of reduced surgical time, the accelerated protocol is effective in halting keratoconus progression in the pediatric age group.

Keywords: Keratoconus; Corneal diseases; Ultraviolet rays; Cross-linking reagents; Visual acuity

Abstract

A falência primária do enxerto é uma complicação conhecida que pode ocorrer após o transplante penetrante de córnea. O tratamento usual dessa complicação é com um novo transplante penetrante. Apresentamos um caso em que foi usado o transplante endotelial de membrana de Descemet (DMEK - do inglês Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty) para o tratamento da falência primária após o transplante penetrante. Uma paciente submetida a transplante penetrante evoluiu com falência primária do enxerto a despeito do uso intenso de corticoide tópico e uma prova terapêutica de antivirais. Três meses após a cirurgia inicial, foi optado pela realização do transplante endotelial de membrana de Descemet sob o transplante penetrante. Houve um clareamento precoce e progressivo do enxerto com melhora importante da visão. Após um mês, a visão sem correção era de 20/40 melhorando para 20/20 com refração. O transplante endotelial de membrana de Descemet pode ser uma alternativa a um novo transplante penetrante como tratamento da falência primária.

Keywords: Doenças da córnea; Transplante da córnea/efeitos adversos; Rejeição do enxerto; Ceratoplastia penetrante; Lâmina limitante posterior; Ceratoplastia endotelial com remoção da lâmina limitante posterior; Infecções oculares virais; Humanos; Relatos de casos