Detection of subclinical corneal alterations associated with multiple myeloma by corneal densitometry

Session Details

Session Title: Anterior Segment Imaging II

Session Date/Time: Tuesday 25/09/2018 | 08:00-10:30

Paper Time: 08:30

Venue: Room A4

First Author: : S.Maeno JAPAN

Co Author(s): :    S. Koh   Y. Oie   C. Busch   M. Ichii   Y. Kanakura   K. Nishida     

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Corneal crystalline deposition is a known ocular manifestation of multiple myeloma (MM). Crystals are thought to form due to the deposition of immunoglobulin light chain proteins and may diffuse from the tear film or aqueous fluid, although the pathophysiology by which serum proteins in MM patients reach the cornea remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to objectively quantify the MM-associated corneal changes in differing depths of the cornea by corneal densitometry measurements.

Setting:

Osaka University Hospital, Osaka, Japan

Methods:

60 eyes of 30 MM patients (mean age, 68.7 ± 7.6 years) were enrolled. All eyes were deemed to be clear by slit-lamp examination without abnormal findings. Corneal densitometry measurements from the anterior, central and posterior cornea within a 6-mm-diameter were attained using a Scheimpflug camera (Pentacam HR; Oculus GmbH). 32 eyes of 32 age-matched patients undergoing routine examination before cataract surgery served as controls.

Results:

MM eyes had significantly greater corneal densitometry values of the central 2-mm zone (29.02 ±2.25) and of the surrounding 2- to 6-mm zone (28.16 ±3.06) in the anterior layer than control eyes (25.03 ±2.07, 24.38 ±2.40; P <0.001 for both). Corneal densitometry values in MM of the central 2-mm zone (17.76 ±1.82) and of the surrounding 2- to 6-mm zone (17.64 ±2.05) in the central layer were significantly greater than those of normal eyes (15.48 ±1.29, 15.43 ±1.59; P <0.001 for both). There was no significant difference in the posterior corneal layer between both groups.

Conclusions:

Increased corneal densitometry values in the anterior and central cornea, in cases without clinically evident corneal involvement, may suggest that serum proteins may diffuse from the tear film (anterior part) rather than from the aqueous fluid (posterior part). Corneal densitometry has the potential to noninvasively detect subclinical corneal alterations associated with MM.

Financial Disclosure:

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