Homozygosity of HLA-B27 antigen in the recipient and susceptibility to the corneal allograft reaction.

Our series consists of six penetrating grafts to recipients who were carriers of homozygous HLA-B27 antigen. The donor cornea had only a single or, in one case, no HLA-B27 antigen and thus all presented with at least one incompatible HLA-B antigen to the recipient. Five of six grafts failed, four due to an allograft reaction; in one case corneal oedema of unknown aetiology developed 10 months postoperatively. These results give further support to the hypothesis that the recipients bearing HLA-B27 antigen form an 'at risk' group.