[Schnyder's corneal dystrophy and hyperlipidemia (author's transl]

Five out of ten members of a kinship were found to be affected by Schnyder's corneal dystrophy. Hyperlipoproteinemia was present in five out of eight cases examined (3 times type II, twice type IV). In one case with corneal dystrophy lipid levels were in the normal range, in another case, a child, hyperlipidemia was present without corneal abnormalities. The interrelationship of Schnyder's corneal dystrophy and disorders of lipoprotein metabolism is discussed. It is concluded that patients with Schnyder's corneal dystrophy and their relatives should be screened for hyperlipidemia; prophylactic treatment should be instituted when cases with hypercholesterinemia are found.