title: Pathogenesis of acanthamoebic keratitis: hypothesis based on a histological analysis of 30 cases.
abstract: The results of a histopathological study of 30 cases of Acanthamoeba keratitis are construed as indicating a four stage pathogenetic sequence: (1) initial infection, involving breaching of the surface epithelium; (2) keratocyte depletion by the invading trophozoites; (3) inflammatory response mediated by neutrophil polymorphonuclear leucocytes; (4) stromal necrosis attributable to leucocytic activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of London.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garner
mesh_terms: D000048:Acanthamoeba / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015823:Acanthamoeba Keratitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement; D003315:Cornea / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000473:pathology