Immunohistological evaluation of the healing response at the flap interface in XXXX with @entity4122 requiring penetrating keratoplasty.

@entity1 @entity4122 @entity267 @entity82 @entity2318 @entity3960 @entity2687 @entity2543 @entity1495 @entity597
PURPOSE: To evaluate the healing response at the flap interface in corneas with @entity4122 that required penetrating keratoplasty (PK). METHODS: Corneas of five @entity1 who developed @entity2687 after LASIK (range: 2.5 to 5 years postoperative) were collected after corneal transplant surgery. The corneas were bisected and processed for conventional histologic analysis and immunofluorescence. RESULTS: Light microscopy showed a hypocellular @entity2318 at the wound margin compared with the adjacent @entity2687 in all eyes. All corneas had positive staining for @entity3960 ( @entity3960 ), a myofibroblast marker. In one eye, alpha- @entity3960 cells were located in the @entity2318 region in the area of the semicircular ring of haze along the margin of the LASIK flap corresponding to an area of @entity2543 . In all other eyes, alpha- @entity3960 positive cells were fewer and mainly located in the superficial stroma under the epithelial wound margin surface. Type III collagen was minimal or absent in the central zone and wound margin of all corneas except for the @entity267 with @entity2543 present in the hypercellular @entity2318 region. Chondroitin @entity597 was stronger in the periphery of the flap wound coinciding with a higher presence of alpha- @entity3960 -positive cells in that region. Positive staining for @entity1495 ( @entity1495 ) in the paracentral wound margin scar was seen. CONCLUSIONS: A wound-healing process characterized by absence of significant @entity82 and myofibroblasts at the wound edge in the flap interface was noted in all keratectatic eyes. However, changes in the composition of collagen and the presence of @entity1495 at the wound edge several years after LASIK indicates active wound remodeling that may explain the ongoing loss of tissue and tendency of the @entity267 to bulge.
