Schnyder crystalline corneal dystrophy explained

Schnyder crystalline corneal dystrophy
Synonyms:Crystalline stromal dystrophy, Schnyder crystalline dystrophy sine crystals, Hereditary crystalline stromal dystrophy of Schnyder, Schnyder's crystalline corneal dystrophy
Field:ophthalmology

Schnyder crystalline corneal dystrophy (SCD) is a rare form of corneal dystrophy. It is caused by heterozygous mutations in UBIAD1 gene.[1] [2] [3] Cells in the cornea accumulate cholesterol and phosopholipid deposits leading to the opacity, in severe cases requiring corneal transplants. Abnormal cholesterol metabolism has been noted in other cell types of affected patients (skin fibroblasts) suggesting that this may be a systemic disorder with clinical manifestations limited to the cornea.

Notes and References

  1. Orr et al, PLoS One (2007) vol 2, e685
  2. Yellore et al, Molec Vision (2007) vol 13, 1777-1782
  3. Weiss et al, IOVS (2007) vol 48, 5007-5012