Serological profile of candidates for corneal donation

• Main Authors: Adroaldo Lunardelli, Richard Beraldini Alvarenga, Maria Luiza Assmann, Dário Eduardo de Lima Brum, Mirna Adolfina Barison
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Oftalmologia 2014-10-01
• Series: Revista Brasileira de Oftalmologia
• Subjects: Sorologia; Córnea/imunologia; Transplante de córnea
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0034-72802014000500282&lng=en&tlng=en

Objetive: The purpose of this study is to map the serological profile of candidates to corneal donation at Irmandade Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Porto Alegre, identifying the percentage of disposal by serology and the marker involved. Methods: There have been analised – retrospectively – the results of serology of all corneal donors, made between the period of 1st january 2006 and 31st december 2012. Data analised were related to age, gender and the results of serology pertinent to viral markers (HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HCV and anti-HIV), these, determined by immunosorbent tests (ELISA). Results: In the period of the study, there were 2476 corneal donors at the institution, with a major incidence on the male gender, on an average of 58.7 years old. 23% of retention because of serological unfitness was also identified, that is, 570 samples were non-negative to any of the used tests. The marker anti- HBc was the most prevalent on the studied population, followed by the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Conclusion: From the data found through this study, it is essential to have the participation of an efficient service on the serological evaluation of the candidates to corneal donation, once the security of the receptor must be taken into consideration in a population of donors with 23% of unfitness prevalence, in which the most prevalent marker is the one of Hepatits B.