Bilateral posterior lamellar corneal transplant surgery in an infant of 17 weeks old: Surgical challenges and the added value of intraoperative optical coherence tomography

Abstract

This study aimed to describe the surgical challenges, management, and value of intraoperative optical coherence tomography in a case of a bilateral Descemet Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty corneal transplantation at 17 weeks of age for the treatment of severe posterior polymorphous corneal dystrophy resulting from a de novo mutation of the OVOL2‐gene.

We present a severe case of PPCD resulting from a rare de novo pathogenic mutation of the OVOL2 gene warranting a bilateral corneal transplantation at a young age. The direct imaging of intraoperative OCT may aid surgery in severely clouded corneas.

1. INTRODUCTION

Posterior polymorphous corneal dystrophy (PPCD) is a rare autosomal‐dominant corneal endothelial dystrophy. The dystrophy is characterized by abnormal endothelial cell morphology, which appears as vesicular lesions, gray‐white opacities, and linear bands during slit‐lamp examination. ¹ PPCD is genetically heterogeneous and can be caused by pathogenic mutations in the OVOL2 gene (PPCD1), COL8A2 gene (PPCD2), ZEB1 gene (PPCD3), and GRHL2 gene (PPCD4). ¹ , ² In general, PPCD is considered a mild condition, where only a minority develops symptoms in infancy resembling a Congenital Hereditary Endothelial Dystrophy (CHED). These symptoms include the following: corneal edema, peripheral iridocorneal adhesions, and glaucoma. Of these symptoms, in particular, corneal edema can have a huge impact on the visual development due to amblyopia. ³

It is estimated that about 20–25% of PPCD cases who develop corneal edema require corneal transplant surgery. ⁴ In recent years, endothelial keratoplasty is increasingly preferred as a first‐choice treatment for corneal endothelial transplant surgery in children. ⁵ , ⁶ Here, the structural integrity of the cornea is retained and a superior acuity is achieved. However, endothelial keratoplasty requires corneal clarity, and as a consequence, standard endothelial keratoplasty is not always feasible in cases with severe corneal clouding. To this end, intraoperative optical coherence tomography (iOCT) theoretically provides a solution. iOCT is a novel application of a widely used noninvasive in vivo imaging based on infrared light interferometry. The iOCT signal is typically not affected by corneal clouding and provides the surgeon with high‐resolution in‐depth images of the surgical field. ⁷

We present a case of a 4‐month‐old infant with PPCD1 and severe corneal clouding who was successfully treated with iOCT‐assisted lamellar endothelial keratoplasty in both eyes. Our extensive reporting of the surgical challenges in this case and the description of the benefits of iOCT during surgery may help ophthalmologist in similar cases.

2. CASE DESCRIPTION

A newborn boy of 9 weeks old was referred with progressive clouding of both eyes. Initial examination with handheld slit lamp showed diffuse corneal clouding, a symmetrical cornea diameter of 11 mm, and normal pupillary reflexes. No evident iridocorneal adhesions or corectopia were found. The pregnancy was normal (G1P1) with a spontaneous vaginal delivery at 41 weeks gestational age. Physical examination, as performed by the pediatrician and the clinical geneticist, was uneventful. Extensive metabolic screening in urine (including amino acids and glycosaminoglycans) and plasma (including amino acids) ruled out mucopolysaccharidoses, tyrosinemia type II, and cystinosis. A tentative diagnosis of CHED was made. Given the genetic heterogeneity of CHED/PPCD, genetic testing was performed by high‐throughput DNA analysis and subsequent in silico analysis of 424 genes associated with visual impairment (consisting of single‐nucleotide variant and copy number variant analysis) followed by SNP array. This revealed a de novo chromosomal duplication of ~49 kb in the region 20p11.23, encompassing the entire OVOL2 gene. The duplication was absent in DNA from the parents with no known family history of PPCD or consanguinity.

Additional ophthalmic examinations were performed under general anesthesia. The iOCT imaging revealed thickened corneas (OD: 1199 µm, OS: 1115 µm) with hyper‐reflective stromal lesions (Figure 1A). No structural abnormalities of the anterior segment were found. The red reflex in mydriasis was absent in both eyes, though ultrasound echography showed no abnormalities in the posterior segment. The intraocular pressure (IOP) measured 18 mmHg ODS (Tonopen Avia, Reichert, Inc.), and the axial length was 18.2 mm OD and 17.85 mm OS (conformed to his age). Sodium chloride drops 5 times daily and nonsteroid anti‐inflammatory (Nepafenac, 0.3%; Novartis Pharma) ocular drops 1 time daily were prescribed with no effect and subsequently discontinued after 2 months.

FIGURE 1.

Intraoperative optical coherence tomography imaging. In the upper image (A) is the right eye shown during initial examination and in the lower image (B) the right eye during primary surgery. In both images, the left panel shows the en face microscope view, and in the right panel, the corresponding live optical coherence tomography (OCT) image. The location and direction of the live OCT image are highlighted by the turquoise arrow in the white square in the left panel. In the upper image (A), significant corneal clouding can be seen, and the OCT images shows hyper‐reflective lesions in the stroma compared to the surrounding tissue. The anterior chamber angle measures 47 degrees and no structural abnormalities. The middle image (B) shows the right eye during primary surgery. Because of severe corneal edema, the graft is poorly visible in the en face microscope view. However, using the live OCT image the surgeon was able to clearly visualize the graft during surgery. The lower image (C) shows the right eye 10 weeks after primary surgery. The en face microscope view shows a clear cornea and bright red reflex. In the OCT image, an attached and deswelled graft can be observed

Based on the identified pathogenic OVOL2 duplication, the corneal clouding was diagnosed as PPCD1. The aggressive course of the disease would inevitably lead to severe visual impairment. With informed consent from both parents, and after consultation with our pediatric ophthalmologists and an international board of corneal specialists, we decided to perform a bilateral lamellar endothelial keratoplasty.

2.1. Surgical treatment

At 17 weeks of age, a bilateral Descemet Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK) corneal transplantation was performed in the Wilhelmina Children's Hospital (Figure 2B). An 8.5 mm precut organ cultured unmarked DSAEK tissue was provided by the eye bank (ETB‐BISLIFE). The graft endothelial cell density measured 2800 and 2600 cells/mm, ² and the graft thickness measured 133 µm and 106 µm for, respectively, the right eye and the left eye. Largely, the same surgical procedure was subsequently used for both eyes. After creating two paracenteses nasally and temporally, the surgeon performed a peripheral iridectomy at the 6 o'clock position. In the first procedure (OD), a Lewicky anterior chamber maintainer was used (DORC International). In the left eye, a viscoelastic device (Healon, Abbott Medical) was used to maintain the anterior chamber and prevent IOP differences and rinsed carefully after graft positioning. ⁸ A high vitreous pressure resulted in iris prolapse in both eyes, which was subsequently repositioned. Repositioning of the iris prolapse in the right eye proved challenging because of the high vitreous pressure, which resulted in an iris defect and damage to the sphincter muscle. Repositioning of the iris in the left eye was only possible after relieving the intraocular pressure by performing a sclerotomy using a sideport knife and pars plana aspiration using a 15‐gauge needle. The Descemet membrane was not attempted to be removed, as the Descemet membrane cannot be identified in infants. ⁵ A 4 mm corneal‐scleral incision was made, and nylon 10‐0 nonabsorbable stitches (Ethicon) were prepared. Prior to insertion and owing to the absent visualization, the graft was stained using membrane blue (DORC International) and inserted using a Macaluso inserter (Janach Instruments).

FIGURE 2.

Timeline of major examinations. In Figure, we constructed a timeline of important events and examinations of this case. The left image shows the right eye (OD) and the right image the left eye (OS) at the time of the intervention described left of the images (e.g., first examination and primary surgery.). Right of the images the age of the boy is given at the time of the intervention. At the first examination (A), there is a significant amount of corneal edema at 12 weeks of age. The images at the primary surgery (B) show the increased severity of corneal edema and the difficulty to visualize the graft. Two weeks after primary surgery (C), the graft in the left eye was found to have detached and was subsequently reattached by injecting air in the anterior chamber. Two months after the primary surgery (D), the cornea of the right eye cleared and a red reflex is visible, and the cornea of the left eye is still severely clouded and was shortly afterward the left eye was regrafted. At a proximally 10 months of age, an examination with the use of mydriatics was performed. The right eye shows a clear cornea with a bright red reflex, whereas the left cornea is still hazy and shows no red reflex (E)

A microscope‐integrated iOCT (OPMI Lumera 700; Carl Zeiss) was used during the surgery to visualize various steps during surgery, such as graft orientation, position, adherence, and interface (Figure 1B). Graft orientation was assessed using the acute‐angled bevel sign described by Titiyal et al.; a sharp angle (<90°) between the graft's edge and recipient posterior corneal surface indicates a correct orientation of the graft. ⁹ The graft was fixated using a full air fill and iOCT image revealed persistent interface fluid, which resolved after continuous corneal swiping. Afterwards, the iOCT image confirmed a fully adhered donor lenticule with no interface abnormalities and consequently no prolonged overpressure of the globe was applied. At the end of surgery, large air bubble was retained (~90%) and left to resorb in the days after surgery monitoring for signs of a high intraocular pressure. The patient received a peribulbar injections of dexamethasone 4 mg/ml. Postoperative medication included dexamethasone, 0.1%, and tobramycin, 0.3%, eye drops 6 times daily (TobraDex, Novartis Pharma) and prednisolone ointment ante noctem for 3 months (Ursapharm). After this period, the topical antibiotic was switched to 0.1% dexamethasone eyedrop QID (Thea Pharma Benelux).

2.2. Outcome and follow‐up

One week after surgery, the right eye started to clear, whereas the cornea of the left eye remained cloudy. Because of the young age of the patients and difficulty in examining the eye, repeated postoperative examinations were performed under general anesthesia. During re‐examination, 2 weeks postoperative iOCT showed a completely attached graft in the right eye and a >75% detached graft in in the left eye, which was reattached directly using a complete fill of the anterior chamber with air (Figure 2C). Nonetheless, the cornea of the left eye remained cloudy after surgery and the boy developed an esotropia and horizontal pendular nystagmus. Another re‐examination was performed 10 weeks after initial surgery. During this examination, iOCT revealed completely attached grafts in both eyes (Figure 1C). The graft in the left eye was markedly thicker compared to the graft of the right eye, respectively, 197 µm vs. 85 µm, and remained cloudy indicating a graft failure. The IOP measured 24 mmHg (OD) and 28 mmHg (OS). Because the apparent dysfunction of the graft in the left eye, a retransplant was planned and IOP‐lowering medication was started (timolol/brinzolamide BID).

At 29 weeks old, a re‐DSAEK of the left eye was performed following the same surgical procedure as described for the initial surgery for the left eye. However, during the retransplant procedure the surgeon used a complete sulfur hexafluoride 20% fill and 10 min overpressure to improve graft adherence. In the weeks after the retransplant, the cornea of the left eye started to clear (Figure 2D) and both the nystagmus and esotropia decreased. Despite, the left eye lacked a proper red reflex and the pupil did not respond to mydriatics for which pediatric cataract surgery was planned. Prior to the surgery, ultrasound echography was performed and no abnormalities in the posterior segment were found. During the surgery, a pupillary fibrotic membrane with a clear lens was identified and the membrane could be removed without complications. In addition, after accelerated tapering of steroids and switching 0.1% fluorometholone (Allergan Nederland BV) the IOP normalized.

He exhibited a relative normal visual behavior, owing to the normal visual development in the right eye, whereas the left eye experienced a deprivation amblyopia. Despite the removal of the pupillary membrane, an intractable miosis persisted, and he did not have a proper red reflex in the left eye (Figure 2E). Occlusive patching was commenced at 9 months of age, with mixed compliance. Importantly, orthoptic examination showed visual responses in the left eye and a decrease in the nystagmus and esotropia.

At 14 months, the boy was again examined under general anesthesia. In both eyes, the graft was attached and functional. In the right eye, the cornea fully cleared, whereas the left cornea was relatively clear. The crystalline lens was clear in both eyes, though the left eye lacked a proper red reflex. The IOP normalized, with no apparent sequelae of the prolonged ocular hypertension. Funduscopic examination of the right eye did not reveal abnormalities in the posterior segment. To date, at 20 months of age, both corneas remained clear. The right eye showed a promising visual potential, whereas he can use left eye for spatial orientation and the recognition of coarse objects.

3. DISCUSSION

Here, we describe the clinical course of an infant boy with severe PPCD1 who was treated with bilateral iOCT‐assisted DSAEK at 17 weeks of age. Imminent corneal blindness warranted this high‐risk intervention at such a young age. After surgery, corneal clarity was restored in the right eye and the boy exhibited a good visual functioning of his right eye. The left eye had a more prolonged surgical course, with eventually a functional graft was achieved after four surgical interventions, albeit with a suboptimal red reflex. He is currently treated for a deprivation amblyopia, with guarded hopes for the amelioration of visual function and isophoria of the left eye. In addition, the risk of secondary ocular hypertension remains present, since PPCD and steroid use are independent risk factors for the development of glaucoma. Furthermore, particularly interesting about this case is the nonhereditary mutation of the OVOL2 gene, while in the majority of the reported cases a hereditary link has been confirmed. ¹ , ² , ⁴

Endothelial keratoplasty is increasingly preferred for the treatment of congenital endothelial disorders compared to penetrating keratoplasty. In children who underwent penetrating keratoplasty, visual rehabilitation may be complicated because of amblyopia, suture‐related complications, high astigmatism, graft rejection, and the long‐term graft failure. Nevertheless, performing endothelial keratoplasty in children is more challenging than in adults because of the smaller corneal diameter, higher scleral elasticity, shallower anterior chamber, and difficulty maintaining a supine position after surgery. Moreover, treatment is further complicated by difficulties in examination the eye. Only a few cases are reported to undergo surgery at an infant age. ⁴ , ⁵ , ⁶ , ¹⁰ , ¹¹ , ¹² The reports of endothelial keratoplasty at infant age show in general a successful procedure. Notwithstanding, most reported cases developed a graft detachment in at least one eye, which required rebubbling of the graft.

The availability of the iOCT proves a crucial asset in the treatment of this case: Without endothelial keratoplasty, it would have been challenging. The high‐resolution imagery of the iOCT provided direct and accurate 3D spatial information about the cornea, anterior segment, and graft. In line with other studies, we found that the availability of iOCT had a positive influence on critical decision‐making during surgery and follow‐up. ⁷ The iOCT proved to be decisive in determining the orientation and confirming the adherence of the graft, which led to refraining from prolonged overpressure of the globe.

In conclusion, we report the first bilateral iOCT‐assisted DSAEK in an infant. At 20 months old, he showed a remarkably normal visual behavior. We hope that reporting the extensive genetic and metabolic workup, description of the advantage of iOCT, and our judicious considerations helps other corneal surgeons in clinical decision making for these rare and high‐risk cases.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors have no financial or proprietary interest in the materials presented herein. MBM and RPLW are supported by the Dr. F.P. Fischer Foundation and facilitated by the Foundation Friends from the UMC Utrecht and an unrestricted grant from Zeiss GmbH. The following authors have no financial disclosures: HYK, PEQMC, PMvH, PAWJFS, and ESMV‐K.

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS

MM and RW drafted the manuscript. MM, HK, PH, and RW critical revision of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

ETHICAL APPROVAL

We received informed consent from the patient for all the procedures described in this case report. The study was conducted according to the ethical standards established in the Declaration of Helsinki.

CONSENT

A written consent was obtained from the parents of the patient for the publication of the case and images.

Muijzer MB, Kroes HY, van Hasselt PM, Wisse RPL. Bilateral posterior lamellar corneal transplant surgery in an infant of 17 weeks old: Surgical challenges and the added value of intraoperative optical coherence tomography. Clin Case Rep. 2022;10:e05637. doi: 10.1002/ccr3.5637

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

Data available on request from the author due to privacy/ ethical restrictions.