Amyloidosis corneal

Title

Other Names:

Corneal amyloidosis; GDLD; CDGDL; Corneal amyloidosis; GDLD; CDGDL; Gelatinous drop-like corneal dystrophy; Corneal dystrophy, gelatinous drop-like; Amyloid corneal dystrophy, Japanese type; Corneal dystrophy, Lattice type 3; Lattice corneal dystrophy type3 See More

Categories:

Congenital and Genetic Diseases; Eye diseases

Summary Summary

The following summary is from Orphanet, a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs.

Orpha Number: 98957

Disease definition

Gelatinous drop-like corneal dystrophy (GDCD) is a form of superficial corneal dystrophy characterized by multiple prominent milky-white gelatinous nodules beneath the corneal epithelium, and marked visual impairment.

Epidemiology

Worldwide prevalence of this form of corneal dystrophy is not known. Cases have been reported in patients from India, Tunisia, Vietnam, Turkey, the USA and other countries, but most cases seem to be in Japan where prevalence is estimated to be 1/300,000.

Clinical description

Lesions generally develop in the first or second decade of life. The clinical features include severe photophobia, tearing, a corneal foreign body sensation and severe progressive loss of vision.

Etiology

Gelatinous drop-like corneal dystrophy is mostly caused by mutations in the TACSTD2 gene (1p32) encoding tumor-associated calcium signal transducer 2. More than 20 mutations have been reported but some patients have been found not to have a mutation in this gene, which suggests genetic heterogeneity.

Diagnostic methods

Fusiform deposits similar to those in lattice corneal dystrophy (LCD, see this term) in the deeper stroma may be found by light microscopy.

Genetic counseling

An autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance has been reported.

Management and treatment

An unsatisfactory response has been observed to both lamellar keratoplasty (LKP) and penetrating keratoplasty (PK), as well as to a superficial keratectomy, since amyloid recurs in the graft within about 5 years.

Visit the Orphanet disease page for more resources.

Last updated: 5/1/2012

Symptoms Symptoms

This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

Showing of 7 |

Medical Terms	Other Names	Learn More: HPO ID
Percent of people who have these symptoms is not available through HPO
Autosomal recessive inheritance		0000007
Blurred vision		0000622
Childhood onset	Symptoms begin in childhood	0011463
Corneal dystrophy		0001131
Photophobia	Extreme sensitivity of the eyes to light Light hypersensitivity [ more ]	0000613
Reduced visual acuity		0007663
Visual impairment	Impaired vision Loss of eyesight Poor vision [ more ]	0000505

Showing of 7 |

Do you have more information about symptoms of this disease? We want to hear from you.

Last updated: 8/7/2018

Do you have updated information on this disease? We want to hear from you.

Find a Specialist Find a Specialist

If you need medical advice, you can look for doctors or other healthcare professionals who have experience with this disease. You may find these specialists through advocacy organizations, clinical trials, or articles published in medical journals. You may also want to contact a university or tertiary medical center in your area, because these centers tend to see more complex cases and have the latest technology and treatments.

If you can’t find a specialist in your local area, try contacting national or international specialists. They may be able to refer you to someone they know through conferences or research efforts. Some specialists may be willing to consult with you or your local doctors over the phone or by email if you can't travel to them for care.

You can find more tips in our guide, How to Find a Disease Specialist. We also encourage you to explore the rest of this page to find resources that can help you find specialists.

Healthcare Resources

To find a medical professional who specializes in genetics, you can ask your doctor for a referral or you can search for one yourself. Online directories are provided by the American College of Medical Genetics and the National Society of Genetic Counselors. If you need additional help, contact a GARD Information Specialist. You can also learn more about genetic consultations from Genetics Home Reference.

Research Research

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

The U.S. National Institutes of Health, through the National Library of Medicine, developed ClinicalTrials.gov to provide patients, family members, and members of the public with current information on clinical research studies. There is a study titled Screening Study for the Evaluation and Diagnosis of Potential Research Participants which may be of interest to you.

Organizations Organizations

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

Amyloidosis Australia, Inc.
131-133 Napier Street
St. Arnaud,
Victoria, 3478
Australia
Telephone: 03 9001 9312
E-mail: ellen@amyloidosis.com.au
Website: http://www.amyloidosis.com.au/
Amyloidosis Support Groups Inc.
232 Orchard Drive
Wood Dale, IL 60191
Toll-free: 866-404-7539
Telephone: 847-350-7540
E-mail: info@amyloidosissupport.com , muriel@amyloidosissupport.com
Website: http://www.amyloidosissupport.com
Cornea Research Foundation of America
9002 N. Meridian Street, Suite 212
Indianapolis, IN 46260
Telephone: 317-844-5610
Fax: 317-814-2806
Website: http://www.cornea.org
National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research (NAEVR)
1801 Rockville Pike, Suite 400
Rockville, MD 20852
Telephone: 240-221-2905
Fax: 240-221-0370
E-mail: jamesj@eyeresearch.org
Website: http://www.eyeresearch.org/
Prevent Blindness America
211 West Wacker Drive, Suite 1700
Chicago, IL 60606
Toll-free: 800-331-2020
E-mail: info@preventblindness.org
Website: http://www.preventblindness.org/

Social Networking Websites

RareConnect has an online community for patients and families with this condition so they can connect with others and share their experiences living with a rare disease. The project is a joint collaboration between EURORDIS (European Rare Disease Organisation) and NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders).

Do you know of an organization? We want to hear from you.

Learn More Learn More

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

Amyloidosis Awareness is an illustrated booklet for patients and physicians developed by Amyloidosis Support Groups Inc. Versions of the booklet are also available in Spanish and Portuguese.
The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library provides information on this condition for patients and caregivers.
The National Eye Institute (NEI) was established by Congress in 1968 to protect and prolong the vision of the American people. Click on the link to view information on this topic.
The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) has a report for patients and families about this condition. NORD is a patient advocacy organization for individuals with rare diseases and the organizations that serve them.

In-Depth Information

Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Amyloidosis corneal. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

News & Events News & Events

News

The XVIth International Symposium on Amyloidosis
May 31, 2017

NCATS Co-Sponsored Conferences

XIV International Symposium on Amyloidosis Sunday, April 27, 2014 - Friday, May 2, 2014
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Description: One important goal is to foster interactions between investigators who do not meet regularly outside of this event. Through this conference, experts can share unpublished scientific and clinical information about rare diseases that are hard to treat. A second crucial goal is to stimulate interest in a new generation of investigators by providing generous support for at least 10 junior-level researchers to attend the meeting, giving out awards for the most promising clinical research, the best poster, and the best oral presentation by young investigators, and providing childcare options.

Contact: Rebekah S. Rasooly, Ph.D.(301) 594-6007rrl85i@nih.gov

Co-funding Institute(s): National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Office of Rare Diseases Research

GARD Answers GARD Answers

Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know. Submit a new question

I have lattice corneal dystrophy type 1 and have had light sensitivity and astigmatism for a number of years Over the past 18 months my vision has become much worse. Is any current research going on that relates to lattice corneal dystrophy? Also, have there been any recent articles published in medical journals about this disease? Since there are no other cases of corneal dystrophy in my family, yet this is a genetic disease, I'm additionally interested in finding out more about genetic testing. See answer

Have a question? Contact a GARD Information Specialist.

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