Preoperative aqueous cytokine levels are associated with endothelial cell loss after descemet’s stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty

Purpose: To evaluate the association between endothelial cell density (ECD) after Descemet’s stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) and preoperative cytokine levels in the aqueous humor (AqH). Methods: This prospective consecutive case series included 97 consecutive patients who underwent DSAEK (64 eyes) or cataract surgery (33 eyes). AqH samples were collected at the beginning of each surgery. The levels of cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-13, IL-17A, IFN-α, IFN-γ, monocyte chemotactic protein [MCP]-1, E-selectin, P-selectin, and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule [sICAM]-1) in the AqH were measured by multiplex beads immunoassay. The correlations between preoperative aqueous cytokine levels and the ECD at 12 months after DSAEK were analyzed. Results: The ECD decreased from 2747 ± 259 cells/mm²in the donor graft to 1235 ± 607 cells/mm²at 12 months after DSAEK. In all subjects undergoing DSAEK, the postoperative ECD at 12 months was significantly correlated with the preoperative levels of MCP-1 (r = −0.467, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.650 to −0.222, P = 0.0003). In an analysis excluding Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (11 eyes), the ECD at 12 months after DSAEK was significantly correlated with preoperative levels of IL-17A (r = −0.635, 95% CI: −0.819 to −0.319, P = 0.0004), MCP-1 (r = −0.605, 95% CI: −0.779 to −0.345, P < 0.0001), IFN-γ (r = −0.633, 95% CI: −0.796 to −0.385, P < 0.0001), E-selectin (r = −0.516, 95% CI: −0.756 to −0.276, P = 0.0004), and sICAM-1 (r = −0.537, 95% CI: −0.735 to −0.253, P = 0.0005). Conclusions: Higher preoperative levels of IL-17A, MCP-1, IFN-γ, E-selectin, and sICAM-1 in the AqH were associated with lower ECD after DSAEK for bullous keratopathy.