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Updated: Jul 6, 2025
Full-Field Optical Coherence Microscopy for Histology-Like Analysis of Stromal Features in Corneal Grafts
Published on: October 21, 2022
Analysis of cardiovascular risk factors for the viability of cornea donors: a case-control study
Alejandro Montero-Salinas1,2, Santiago Martínez-Isasi3,4,5, Eva Fieira-Costa1,6
1Biomedical Research Institute of A Coruña (INIBIC), Universidade da Coruña, A Coruna, Spain.
Insights
Cardiovascular risk factors like COPD and diabetes negatively impact corneal tissue viability, while alcohol consumption and smoking may improve it. This research aids in donor assessment for better corneal graft outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Transplantation Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Corneal transplantation is crucial for vision restoration.
- Donor-related factors significantly influence graft success.
- Cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) are prevalent in potential donors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of CVRFs including arterial hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, smoking, alcoholism, and COPD on corneal donor and tissue viability.
- To assess the influence of these factors on implant viability.
- To provide insights for optimizing donor selection and tissue quality.
Main Methods:
- Observational case-control study.
- Review of medical history for 1517 corneal donors.
- Collection of data on donor CVRFs, corneal tissue evaluation, and implant viability.
Main Results:
- 81.5% of donors had at least one CVRF.
- COPD reduced donor viability (OR=0.49) and tissue viability (OR=0.67).
- Diabetes reduced tissue viability (OR=0.76).
- Alcohol consumption increased donor viability (OR=1.84).
- Active smoking increased implant viability (OR=1.52).
Conclusions:
- CVRFs significantly affect corneal donor and tissue viability.
- Alcohol consumption and smoking may have a positive impact on viability.
- Assessing CVRFs is essential for understanding tissue quality and optimizing corneal transplantation outcomes.
Objective:
The main objective of the study was to evaluate the influence of arterial hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia, smoking, alcoholism and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) on the viability of the extracted tissue as well as the donor.
Design:
Observational case-control study.
Setting:
Regional hospital in Northern Spain.
Participants:
1517 corneas were registered.
Interventions:
Patients' medical history was reviewed after corneal donation and evaluation. Previous medical information (age, sex and cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs)) and data related to the donor (type of donor), the corneal tissue and its evaluation, and the viability of the implant were collected.
Results:
A total of 1517 corneas were registered and 81.5% of the donors presented at least one CVRF. In relation to the viability of the donor, it was observed that having suffered from COPD reduced the viability of the donor (no COPD: 93.8% vs COPD: 88%; OR=0.49; 95% CI: 0.28 to 0.84) while alcohol consumption increased it (drinker or ex-drinker: 95.8% vs non-drinker: 92.5%; OR=1.84; 95% CI: 1.01 to 3.33). Regarding tissue viability, decreased viability was observed in the presence of COPD (no COPD: 72.5% vs COPD: 64; OR=0.67; 95% CI: 0.47 to 0.96) and diabetes mellitus (no diabetes: 72.9% vs diabetes: 67.2%; OR=0.76; 95% CI: 0.58 to 0.99). As regards the viability of the implant, a total of 1039 corneas (68.9%) were suitable, observing decreased viability when suffering from COPD (no COPD: 69.8% vs COPD: 60.7%; OR=0.67; 95% CI: 0.47 to 0.94) and increased when having an active smoking habit (no habit: 65.3% vs habit: 74.1%; OR=1.52; 95% CI: 1.21 to 1.91).
Conclusions:
Through this study, it can be concluded that in the absence of absolute exclusion criteria for donors, the assessment of how CVRF, alcoholism and COPD may affect the donor provides details about the quality of the tissue to be obtained.
