Clinical and immunological results of corneal allograft rejection.

Of 111 episodes of graft rejection in 66 patients, 62 responded to therapy with graft clearing (responders); 49 did not (non-responders). Both groups were of similar age, sex, and etiology; both had a similar rate of glaucoma and a similar rate of previous grafting. In responders the graft reaction was shorter in duration (2.2 vs. 5.6 wks. p less than 0.005), and it was necessary to increase the number of glaucoma medications more often in non-responders compared to responders (41% vs. 19%, p less than 0.02). The interval from surgery to reaction was similar in responders and non-responders (18.2 vs. 13.3 mos., p greater than 0.1). An epithelial rejection line was present in 11% of responders, but was not present in non-responders (p less than 0.05). Lymphocytotoxic antibody development correlated with rejection in 16 of 64 episodes. Patients who responded to treatment were more frequently asymptomatic (p less than 0.05) or were treated earlier following the onset of symptoms compared to non-responders (p less than 0.0001).