HLA-A1 and steroid-induced cataracts in renal transplant patients

Posterior subcapsular (PSC) lens changes were found in 32 of 33 steroid-treated renal transplant patients examined with the slit lamp techniques of direct and retroillumination. Only one of 33 age-matched controls had any PSC changes. Six (18%) of the renal transplant patients were bilaterally surgically aphakic because of PSC cataracts that developed while the patient was receiving steroid therapy after transplant surgery. Steroid-induced PSC cataracts were associated with the presence of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) A1, but not with the patient's age, cause of renal failure, total dose of steroids, or duration of steroid therapy.