[Anti(lymph)angiogenic preconditioning prior to keratoplasty].

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to describe novel therapeutic concepts to promote graft survival in high-risk keratoplasty by targeting (lymph)angiogenesis in the transplant context.

METHODS

A PubMed literature search and our own clinical and experimental data are evaluated.

RESULTS

There are three options for anti(lymph)angiogenic preconditioning: a) primary prevention of neovascularisation during the disease process, b) secondary prevention by regressing established blood vessels prior to transplantation and (c) tertiary prevention through inhibition of post-keratoplasty neovascularisation.

CONCLUSION

Modern topical anti(lymph)angiogenic therapies seem to be able to reduce the risk of graft rejection especially in high-risk keratoplasty.