Preoperative Aqueous Cytokine Levels Are Associated With a Rapid Reduction in Endothelial Cells After Penetrating Keratoplasty

To evaluate the influence of preoperative inflammatory cytokine levels in the aqueous humor (AqH) on the endothelial cell density (ECD) after penetrating keratoplasty (PKP). Prospective, interventional, consecutive case series. This study includes 70 consecutive patients (mean age 73.7 ± 10.6 years) who underwent PKP (37 eyes) or cataract surgery (controls, 33 eyes). A total of 70 AqH samples were collected at the beginning of each surgery. The levels of cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1α, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-13, IL-17A, interferon [IFN]-α, IFN-γ, monocyte chemotactic protein [MCP]-1, E-selectin and P-selectin) in AqH were measured by multiplex bead immunoassay. The subjects who underwent PKP were classified into 2 groups: ECD ≥ 1200 cells/mm2 at 6 months (24 eyes), and ECD < 1200 cells/mm2 at 6 months (13 eyes). The ECD at 3 months significantly correlated with the preoperative levels of IL-10 (r = −0.428, P = .02) and IFN-γ (r = −0.412, P = .029). The ECD at 6 months significantly correlated with the preoperative levels of IL-10 (r = −0.399, P = .024), MCP-1 (r = −0.444, P = .011), and IFN-γ (r = −0.474, P = .006). The preoperative levels of IL-6, IL-10, MCP-1, IFN-γ, and P-selectin in AqH were significantly higher in eyes with ECD < 1200 cells/mm2 compared with those with ECD ≥ 1200 cells/mm2 at 6 months (P < .05). Higher preoperative levels of IL-10, MCP-1, and IFN-γ in the AqH were associated with low ECD after PKP.