Corneal Dystrophy, Fuchs Endothelial, Late Onset

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

There are a number of endothelial corneal dystrophies to which Fuchs name has been attached, including two that are early in onset, or even congenital (CHED1; 121700), (CHED2; 217700) and at least three that have an adult onset, one (Fuchs endothelial dystrophy, early onset; 136800) which has a relatively early onset and two considered to have a late onset: the one described here and another known as Fuchs Endothelial Dystropy, Late Onset 2 (613267).  Evidence for multiple distinct types comes from genotyping which reveals considerable genetic heterogeneity in spite of similar phenotypes (see Genetics).  All are progressive and degenerative with various degrees of visual disability.  Most have histologic changes in both the endothelial cells and Descemet membrane.

The entity described here likely is the classical disease described in the older literature.  It is certainly the most common, occurring in 4% of the population over the age of 40 years and for unknown reasons is more often found in females.  Guttae are formed as excrescences of Descemet's membrane and develop initially in the central cornea, beginning about the 5th decade, gradually increasing in number and size toward the periphery. They tend to be relatively large, sharply peaked and often positioned at the cell-cell junctions of endothelial cells.  These are often best visualized by corneal transillumination.  Histologically, the posterior portion of Descemet membrane contains bundles and sheets of abnormal collagen.  Progressive corneal edema follows as endothelial cells are lost and the remaining ones are unable to maintain normal stromal hydration.  Fingerprint lines may be present.  The corneal edema may involve both stroma and epithelium and in advanced stages may lead to painful epithelial erosions.  The disease is relentless and early blurring of vision progresses to significant visual handicaps often requiring corneal transplantation in the 7th and 8th decades.

Corneal guttae are common in older individuals but usually are located more peripherally.  The diagnosis of Fuchs can best be made where the guttae are concentrated centrally and associated with stromal and epithelial edema.

Systemic Features: 

No systemic abnormalities have been reported.

Genetics

Late onset Fuchs of this type is due to a mutation on chromosome 13 (13pter-q12.13) but the specific molecular basis for the disease remains unclear.  Many cases occur sporadically but some pedigrees are consistent with autosomal dominant inheritance.  For unknown reasons females are more commonly affected and often have more severe disease.  Recent reports suggest that missense mutations in ZEB1 may be responsible for at least some cases of late-onset Fuchs.  This mutation has also been found in cases of type 3 posterior polymorphous dystrophy (609141) suggesting that the two conditions may be allelic.

Other rare forms of late onset endothelial dystrophy to which the eponymic designation of Fuchs has been applied include FECD3 (613267) in which various mutations in the TCF4 locus on chromosome 18 (18q21.2-q21.3) (and expanded TGC trinucleotide repeats) have been implicated.  Other variants of Fuchs endothelial dystrophy include FECD4 (613268) with a mutation in SLC4A11 (20p13-p12), FECD5 (613269) with a possible mutation on chromosome 5 (5q33.1-q35.2), FECD6 (613270) due to a mutation in ZEB1 on chromosome 10 (10p11.2), and FECD7 (613271) that can be mapped to chromosome 9 (9p24.1-p22.1).

Treatment
Treatment Options: 

Corneal transplantation has a good prognosis and posterior lamellar grafting may be the technique of choice.  In some patients, visually significant cataracts are present before the cornea is severely involved and a triple procedure may be considered.  However, this is best determined by pachymetry.  Individuals with a preoperative corneal thickness of even >600 micrometers can do well after cataract surgery for a number of years before the cornea needs to be replaced.

References
Article Title: 

E2-2 protein and Fuchs's corneal dystrophy

Baratz KH, Tosakulwong N, Ryu E, Brown WL, Branham K, Chen W, Tran KD, Schmid-Kubista KE, Heckenlively JR, Swaroop A, Abecasis G, Bailey KR, Edwards AO. E2-2 protein and Fuchs's corneal dystrophy. N Engl J Med. 2010 Sep 9;363(11):1016-24.

PubMed ID: 
20825314

References

Riazuddin SA, Zaghloul NA, Al-Saif A, Davey L, Diplas BH, Meadows DN, Eghrari AO, Minear MA, Li YJ, Klintworth GK, Afshari N, Gregory SG, Gottsch JD, Katsanis N. Missense mutations in TCF8 cause late-onset Fuchs corneal dystrophy and interact with FCD4 on chromosome 9p. Am J Hum Genet. 2010 Jan;86(1):45-53.

PubMedID: 20036349

Baratz KH, Tosakulwong N, Ryu E, Brown WL, Branham K, Chen W, Tran KD, Schmid-Kubista KE, Heckenlively JR, Swaroop A, Abecasis G, Bailey KR, Edwards AO. E2-2 protein and Fuchs's corneal dystrophy. N Engl J Med. 2010 Sep 9;363(11):1016-24.

PubMedID: 20825314

Sundin, O. H., Jun, A. S., Broman, K. W., Liu, S. H., Sheehan, S. E., Vito, E. C. L., Stark, W. J., Gottsch, J. D. Linkage of late-onset Fuchs corneal dystrophy to a novel locus at 13ptel-13q12.13. Invest. Ophthal. Vis. Sci. 47: 140-145, 2006.

PubMedID: 16384955

Seitzman GD, Gottsch JD, Stark WJ. Cataract surgery in patients with Fuchs'corneal dystrophy: expanding recommendations for cataract surgery without simultaneous keratoplasty. Ophthalmology. 2005Mar;112(3):441-6.

PubMedID: 15745771

Cross, H. E., Maumenee, A. E., Cantolino, S. J. Inheritance of Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy. Arch. Ophthal. 85: 268-272, 1971.

PubMedID: 5313141