Histocompatibility matching in poor-prognosis penetrating keratoplasty.

Rabbits were haplotyped for the major rabbit leukocyte-locus A (RL-A locus), which is analogous to the human leukocyte-locus A (HL-A locus). The rabbits were divided into five groups, and the groups were arranged to provide a controlled experimental setting. Standardized alkali burns were induced in selected groups to produce heavy vascularization of the corneal bed. Groups with completely histocompatible corneal donors for the RL-A locus had a 9 out of 10 success rate when keratoplasty was performed on a vascularized bed. Another group of rabbits mismatched at the RL-A locus with histoincompatible corneal donors were prepared in the same manner and had a success rate of 1 out 9. A probable significant difference (P less than 0.005) using Fischer's exact test was found between the two groups.