[How "safe" is corneal transplantation? A contribution on the risk of HSV-transmission due to corneal transplantation]

INTRODUCTION: We have attempted in this article to summarise the present literature on the risks of virus transmission via corneal transplantation, with special emphasize on Herpes simplex virus (HSV). METHODS: We conducted a literature search from Medline. RESULTS: HSV is now acknowledged as a cause of primary graft failure, and this entity has been attributed to donor-to-host HSV infection. HSV is the primary cause of graft failure, and may induce reactivation in the recipient in the dendritic form, or in atypical forms. CONCLUSIONS: Corneal transplantation is a potential route for HSV infection as a possible transmittable disease which now has to be taken into consideration in eye banks.