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Acanthamoeba sclerokeratitis

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Abstract

Background

Acanthamoeba scleritis is an uncommon but severe complication of acanthamoeba keratitis. We report the clinical and histopathologic features of a patient with acanthamoeba sclerokeratitis.

Methods

Review of the patient’s clinical records and histopathologic examination of the globe including light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy.

Results

Review of the clinical record of the patient revealed a past ocular history of penetrating keratoplasty for persistent acanthamoeba keratitis. Later in the course of treatment, the patient developed nodular necrotizing scleritis with culture-proven viable acanthamoeba in this area. She underwent enucleation of the eye for persistent acanthamoeba sclerokeratitis. Histopathologic examination of the globe revealed no acanthamoeba cysts or trophozoites at the site of crotherapy.

Conclusion

Our study provides evidence for the invasion of acanthamoeba organisms into the sclera in a case of acanthamoeba keratitis. The presence of trophozites in scleral tissue may exacerbate the immune response leading to nodular scleritis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Eye Pathology Laboratory and Cornea/External Disease Service, Wilmer Eye Institute and Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Katayoon B. Ebrahimi, W. Richard Green, Rhonda Grebe & Albert S. Jun

Authors
  1. Katayoon B. Ebrahimi
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  2. W. Richard Green
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  3. Rhonda Grebe
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  4. Albert S. Jun
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Albert S. Jun.

Additional information

Supported in part by: the Medical Illness Counseling Center Grant Award (Chevy Chase, Maryland, USA) to ASJ and the Wilmer Microscopy Core Facility Grant (NEI EY001765).

The authors have no financial or proprietary interests in this subject.

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Ebrahimi, K.B., Green, W.R., Grebe, R. et al. Acanthamoeba sclerokeratitis. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 247, 283–286 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-008-0955-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-008-0955-8

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