title: Zipper cell endotheliopathy: a new subset of idiopathic corneal edema.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the clinical and histologic findings of a new subset of idiopathic corneal edema: zipper cell endotheliopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational case report.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 55-year-old woman with unilateral bullous keratopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical observation consisted of slit-lamp examination and in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM). Aqueous humor samples and the excised corneal button were analyzed for the presence of herpes viruses. The excised cornea was subjected to detailed immunohistochemistry (IHC) and scanning and transmission electron microscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical and pathologic characteristics of zipper cell endotheliopathy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In vivo confocal microscopy revealed unique morphologic alterations of the corneal endothelial layer. Focal areas of denudation were surrounded by endothelial cells with zipper-like cell borders and intercellular structures. Besides central corneal edema, no other signs of corneal inflammation were detected. A herpes virus origin for the bullous keratopathy was excluded. The IHC analysis disclosed positive staining for cytokeratin (CK) 7, CK8/18, and CK19, suggesting epithelial metaplasia of the endothelial cells. Ultrastructural examination confirmed the IVCM findings by showing large areas of endothelial denudation and vacuolated endothelial cells with large, broad-based extensions that partially overlapped neighboring cells. Despite extensive complementary research and review of the literature, the endothelial alterations could not be attributed to any known corneal disorder.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To the authors' knowledge, zipper cell endotheliopathy is a new subset of idiopathic corneal edema. The case report presented illustrates the potential use of IVCM to differentiate the spectrum of corneal disorders and to discover new corneal diseases.
authors: Rotterdam Ophthalmic Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. t.hillenaar@oogziekenhuis.nl
authors: Toine
authors: T
authors: Hillenaar
authors: Cornelia M
authors: CM
authors: Mooy
authors: Georges M G M
authors: GM
authors: Verjans
authors: Lies
authors: L
authors: Remeijer
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D015715:Corneal Edema / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D008679:Metaplasia; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008875:Middle Aged; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007633:Keratins