Corneal graft rejection probably mediated by antibodies

A clinical and laboratory analysis of a rejection episode is presented. A clear graft in a non-vascularized cornea from 1975 was rejected when the contralateral eye was grafted in 1979. Clinically this case was unique by showing no endothelial rejection line and no precipitates and, as seen after successful treatment, no endothelial cell loss. A test for direct cell mediated lympholysis (DCML) was negative while antibody dependent cell mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) was positive at time of rejection, and negative three months later. This case suggests that humoral factors may be involved in corneal graft rejection.