Diseases potentially transmitted through corneal transplantation

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Transplant Medicine
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Corneal transplantation can transmit various diseases from donor to recipient.
• Documented transmissions include rabies, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and hepatitis B.
• Bacterial and fungal infections pose significant hazards to corneal grafts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the spectrum of diseases transmissible via corneal grafts.
• To emphasize the diagnostic difficulties associated with donor-transmitted diseases.
• To assess the risks of transmitting local corneal disorders and dystrophies.

Main Methods:

• Review of documented cases of donor-to-recipient disease transmission.
• Analysis of potential risks, including infections, neoplasms, and corneal dystrophies.
• Evaluation of donor screening effectiveness in the United States.

Main Results:

• Donor disease transmission is rare but includes serious viral, bacterial, and fungal infections.
• Fatal outcomes have occurred in rare instances.
• Transmission of corneal dystrophies is theoretically possible, especially from young donors.

Conclusions:

• Corneal transplantation carries a risk of donor-derived disease transmission, necessitating careful donor selection.
• Current screening methods in the US are largely effective but do not eliminate all risks.
• Ongoing vigilance is crucial to manage and mitigate the transmission of infectious and degenerative diseases through corneal grafts.