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Abstract
Background/Aim We compared the quality of human donor corneas stored in a cold storage medium containing 2.5 μg/ml of amphotericin B (Kerasave, AL.CHI.MI.A. S.R.L., Ponte San Nicolò, Italy) and Optisol-GS (Bausch & Lomb Inc., Bridgewater, NJ, USA) for 14 days.
Methods Sixteen pairs of human donor corneas were collected in Eusol-C (AL.CHI.MI.A. S.R.L., Ponte San Nicolò, Italy). Next, all tissues underwent the first evaluation that included the assessments of central corneal thickness (CCT), endothelial cell density (ECD) measured using both trypan blue staining and specular microscopy, endothelial cell (EC) mortality and morphology, and corneal transparency within 24 hours from recovery (Day 1). Afterwards, one cornea of each pair was transferred into Kerasave or Optisol-GS. ECD and CCT were also assessed at Day 7, and all the metrics were evaluated again at the end of the storage period (Day 14).
Results At all tested time points, no differences were found in the qualitative (corneal transparency, EC morphology) and quantitative metrics (ECD, CCT, EC mortality) between the Kerasave and the Optisol-GS storage groups. At Day 14, the corneas stored in Kerasave and Optisol-GS showed ECD of 2312±98 and 2335±128 cells/mm2 (p=0.886), CCT of 717±17 and 697±19 μm (p=0.454) and central EC mortality of 0.54%±0.40% and 0.14%±0.14% (p=0.719), respectively.
Conclusions The new amphotericin B−containing medium Kerasave was comparable to Optisol-GS in terms of preservation of corneal characteristics at 2–8°C for 14 days.
- Cornea
- Infection
- Microbiology
- Drugs
- Eye (Tissue) Banking
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Footnotes
Acknowledgements We acknowledge Dr Cristina Gianotti for writing assistance.
Contributors JDT, RM designed the study, RM, LG, FP, AL performed data acquisition, analysis and interpretation. RM, JDT, ER performed data analysis and interpretation. RM, JDT, ER drafted and revised the manuscript for important intellectual content. JDT, ER, RM, LG, FP, AL revised and approved the final version of the manuscript.
Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Competing interests L. Giurgola and J. D’Amato Tóthová are employed by the company AL.CHI.MI.A. S.R.L., which was involved in the development of the medical device discussed in this article. R. Mistò, F. Pateri, A. Limongelli and E. Ragazzi demonstrate no financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned. The authors demonstrate no funding to disclose. Funding for the recovery, sample processing and materials used was provided by Eye Bank of Monza, with the exception of the Kerasave, Eusol-C, RESEP and trypan blue, which were provided by Alchilife Srl.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
Data availability statement Data are available upon request.
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