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Corneal endothelial changes in patients with chronic renal failure
N Ohguro1, M Matsuda, M Fukuda
1Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka University Medical School, Suita, Japan. nohguro@ophthal.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
American Journal of Ophthalmology
|August 24, 1999
Summary
Patients with chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis exhibit significant corneal endothelial polymegethism and pleomorphism, despite normal cell density. These morphologic changes highlight potential ocular complications in kidney disease.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Nephrology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Chronic renal failure (CRF) affects multiple organ systems.
- Ocular manifestations of CRF are increasingly recognized.
- The corneal endothelium plays a crucial role in maintaining corneal clarity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate morphologic alterations of the corneal endothelium in patients with CRF.
- To compare endothelial morphology between CRF patients and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Wide-field specular microscopy was used to examine the corneal endothelium.
- Twenty CRF patients undergoing hemodialysis were included.
- Twenty age-matched healthy individuals served as controls.
Main Results:
- Corneal endothelial cell density was comparable between CRF patients and controls.
- CRF patients demonstrated significant corneal endothelial polymegethism (variation in cell size).
- CRF patients showed significant corneal endothelial pleomorphism (variation in cell shape).
Conclusions:
- Polymegathism and pleomorphism of the corneal endothelium are characteristic findings in patients with CRF.
- These endothelial changes may indicate an underlying systemic effect of chronic kidney disease on ocular tissues.
- Further research is warranted to understand the clinical implications of these findings.