Secondary corneal amyloidosis after perforating corneal trauma: A series of 5 cases and review of the literature

Surv Ophthalmol. 2015 Nov-Dec;60(6):590-5. doi: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2015.07.004. Epub 2015 Aug 4.

Abstract

We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and surgical histories of 5 patients with traumatic secondary corneal amyloidosis, a relatively rare sequela of nonsurgical and surgical perforating corneal trauma. Four had history of nonsurgical trauma, and 1 had surgical trauma to the cornea. Three specimens were obtained by penetrating keratoplasties and 2 by excision of the cornea during evisceration of the ocular contents. All the corneal specimens showed full-thickness scars of a prior perforating wound with congophilic amyloid deposits that exhibited apple-green birefringence under polarized light and dichroism. All cases had variable degrees of predominantly chronic nongranulomatous inflammation. Ultrastructural examination in 1 patient disclosed 8-nm diameter fibrils in disarray, consistent with amyloid. Amyloid P immunostaining was positive in all 3 patients tested for this protein.

Keywords: amyloid; cornea; corneal degeneration; pathology; perforating corneal trauma; secondary corneal amyloidosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amyloid / metabolism
  • Amyloidosis / diagnosis
  • Amyloidosis / etiology*
  • Amyloidosis / metabolism
  • Corneal Diseases / diagnosis
  • Corneal Diseases / etiology*
  • Corneal Diseases / metabolism
  • Corneal Injuries / complications*
  • Corneal Perforation / complications*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • Amyloid