Corneal copper deposition associated with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
OBJECTIVE
To report a case of corneal copper deposition associated with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).


METHODS
Case report.


METHODS
A 65-year-old woman with a history of CLL was diagnosed with bilateral corneal opacification. Slit-lamp examination revealed dense, central yellow-brown pigmentation of Descemet's membrane in each cornea. The presence of a bilateral pigmented deposition at the level of Descemet's membrane led to a presumptive clinical diagnosis of corneal copper deposition.


RESULTS
Serologic investigations revealed a markedly elevated copper (hypercupremia) and IgG levels with a normal ceruloplasmin. Wilson's disease was excluded as a possible cause based on liver function tests and a liver biopsy. Thus, the patient was diagnosed with corneal copper deposition secondary to hypercupremia associated with CLL.


CONCLUSIONS
Corneal copper deposition may be associated with systemic malignancy, most commonly myeloproliferative disorders, including CLL. Recognition of the characteristic clinical features associated with corneal copper deposition allows the clinician to confirm the diagnosis with appropriate serologic studies.
Aldave
Anthony J
AJ
The Jules Stein Eye Institute, University of California Los Angeles Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA. aldave@jsei.ucla.edu
King
Julie A
JA
Kim
Brian T
BT
Hopp
Lawrence
L
D000368:Aged; D002570:Ceruloplasmin / Q000032:analysis; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism*; D003318:Corneal Opacity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D003886:Descemet Membrane / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis
D003300:Copper; D002570:Ceruloplasmin