Transfer of bacterial infections by donor cornea in penetrating keratoplasty.

A 45-year-old man died of Hogdkin's disease complicated by peritonitis and possible septicemia. His corneas were used for transplant in a 26-year-old man with advanced keratoconus and a 42-year-old man with vascularized central leukoma of old herpetic keratitis. Both recipients developed a fulminating endophthalmitis with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We believe that the donor corneas, although clinically normal, were heavily infected, with signs of inflammation possibly suppressed by the Hodgkin's disease.