Penetrating keratoplasty in a patient with 75% third degree burns

A 25-year-old woman was severely burned in a gasoline explosion in her home. One month after her admission to the hospital a mycotic corneal ulcer, caused by Candida albicans, developed and progressed to a descemetocele in spite of medical therapy. A therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty was performed and the graft remained clear until the present time (10 months of follow-up). The one episode of clinical corneal graft rejection occurred at the same time the first evidence of return of immune competence was seen in her skin grafts. The corneal rejection episode was successfully treated by topical corticosteroids.