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Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and ocular calcification
I Pecorella1, A C McCartney, S Lucas
1Department of Pathology, United Medical and Dental School St. Thomas Campus, London, England.
Cornea
|May 1, 1996
Summary
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients exhibited unusual corneal calcification, identified postmortem. This calcification, composed of hydroxyapatite, affected the corneal stroma but not Bowman
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pathology
- Immunology
Background:
- Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is associated with various opportunistic infections and complications.
- Ocular manifestations in AIDS patients can range from infections to inflammatory conditions.
Observation:
- Postmortem histological examination revealed peculiar nonbanded calcification in the cornea of three AIDS patients.
- One patient also presented with calcium salt precipitates in other ocular and orbital structures.
- Calcification was located in the corneal stroma, sparing Bowman's layer.
Findings:
- Histochemical stains (von Kossa, alizarin red, alcian blue, colloidal iron) confirmed the presence of calcium deposits.
- Electron probe analysis identified the calcified material as hydroxyapatite (calcium and phosphorus).
- No specific predisposing factors for this calcification were identified in the patients.
Implications:
- This finding highlights a previously unreported ocular complication in AIDS.
- The exact mechanism and role of mucopolysaccharide alterations in this calcification remain to be elucidated.
- Further research is needed to understand the pathogenesis and clinical significance of corneal calcification in AIDS.