Penetrating keratoplasty in xeroderma pigmentosum. Case reports and review of the literature.

Xeroderma pigmentosum is an uncommon inherited disorder characterized by hypersensitivity to ultraviolet radiation, with defective repair of DNA damage caused by short-wavelength radiation. Corneal complications of this disorder may require penetrating keratoplasty for visual rehabilitation. Surgery is rarely undertaken in these eyes due to multiple associated problems involving the ocular surface and the lids. We report three cases of successful penetrating keratoplasty in xeroderma pigmentosum and review nine cases reported earlier. Successful grafts were achieved in all 12 eyes initially. Persistent superficial punctate keratopathy was observed in one eye and graft rejection episodes in five eyes. However, graft failure occurred due to an untreated rejection episode in only one eye. Another eye was treated by exenteration for recurrent ocular malignancies. This report highlights the encouraging results of penetrating keratoplasty in carefully selected patients of xeroderma pigmentosum with corneal pathology.