Corneal Thickness and Endothelial Cell Characteristics in Patients with Myotonic Dystrophy

Purpose To compare the characteristics of the endothelial cells of patients with myotonic dystrophy and those of normal subjects to determine if thicker corneas in patients with myotonic dystrophy are the result of their having abnormal endothelial cells leading to corneal edema. Design Prospective, comparative case series. Participants Fifty-two eyes of patients with myotonic dystrophy and 52 eyes of normal age- and gender-matched subjects. Methods Central corneal thickness (CCT) and endothelial cell counts and shape were measured with an SP 3000P specular microscope (Topcon, Tokyo, Japan) in patients with myotonic dystrophy and were compared with those of age- and gender-matched healthy subjects. Main Outcome Measures Central corneal thickness, endothelial cell counts, pleomorphism, and coefficient of variation (CoV). Results In patients with myotonic dystrophy, the mean±standard deviation CCT measurement was 533±38 μm; the mean±standard deviation cell count was 2601±365 cell/mm 2 ; and the mean±standard deviation CoV was 23.3±4.4 ( P P = 0.002); the mean±standard deviation cell count was 2649±363 cell/mm 2 ( P = 0.48); the mean±standard deviation CoV was 27.6±5.5 ( P P = 0.04). Conclusions Thicker corneas found in patients with myotonic dystrophy are not related to endothelial number or appearance as assessed in this study. Financial Disclosure(s) The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.