ACQUIRED-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-SYNDROME AND OCULAR CALCIFICATION

We report the presence of peculiar nonbanded calcification of the corn ea in three patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, discover ed on postmortem histological examination of the globes. In one patien t, multiple calcium salt precipitates also affected other ocular and o rbital structures. Calcium deposits were present in the corneal stroma but spared Bowman's layer, as is usually seen in primary and secondar y corneal calcification. The calcified areas were positive to von Koss a, alizarin red, alcian blue, and colloidal iron stains. Electron prob e analysis of the three cases showed the presence of calcium and phosp horus in a ratio characteristic for hydroxyapatite. No predisposing fa ctors could be found. The possible role of associated alterations in t he mucopolysaccharide content or composition in the calcified areas is unclear.