VIMENTIN AND CYTOKERATIN PATTERN IN GRANULAR CORNEAL-DYSTROPHY

Background: Corneal granular dystrophy is usually classified as a here ditary stromal disease of the cornea. Some investigations, however, ha ve indicated an epithelial rather than a stromal origin of the granula r deposits. In early stages and in recurrences of granular dystrophy a fter keratoplasty, the deposits are most often found in the upper micr olayers of the cornea and even intraepithelially. Methods: In this stu dy we tried to identify immunohistochemical epithelial markers in the corneal granular deposits. Results: A positive reaction with anti-cyto keratin 18 and polyclonal anti-vimentin were found both in the corneal epithelium and in the granular deposits. Conclusion: The immunohistoc hemical findings support the hypothesis of an epithelial origin of the corneal deposits in granular dystrophy.