title: Genetic covariance between central corneal thickness and anterior chamber volume: a Hungarian twin study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few, and inconsistent, studies have showed high heritability of some parameters of the anterior segment of the eye; however, no heritability of anterior chamber volume (ACV) has been reported, and no study has been performed to investigate the correlation between the ACV and central corneal thickness (CCT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Anterior segment measurements (Pentacam, Oculus) were obtained from 220 eyes of 110 adult Hungarian twins (41 monozygotic and 14 same-sex dizygotic pairs; 80% women; age 48.6 ± 15.5 years) obtained from the Hungarian Twin Registry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age- and sex-adjusted heritability of ACV was 85% (bootstrapped 95% confidence interval; CI: 69% to 93%), and 88% for CCT (CI: 79% to 95%). Common environmental effects had no influence, and unshared environmental factors were responsible for 12% and 15% of the variance, respectively. The correlation between ACV and CCT was negative and significant (r ph = -0.35, p < .05), and genetic factors accounted for the covariance significantly (0.934; CI: 0.418, 1.061) based on the bivariate Cholesky decomposition model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings support the high heritability of ACV and central corneal thickness, and a strong genetic covariance between them, which underscores the importance of identification of the specific genetic factors and the family risk-based screening of disorders related to these variables, such as open-angle and also angle closure glaucoma and corneal endothelial alterations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology,Semmelweis University,Budapest,Hungary.
authors.forename: Georgina Zsofia
authors.initials: GZ
authors.lastname: Toth
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology,Semmelweis University,Budapest,Hungary.
authors.forename: Adel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Racz
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Oncotherapy,Semmelweis University,Budapest,Hungary.
authors.forename: Adam Domonkos
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Tarnoki
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Oncotherapy,Semmelweis University,Budapest,Hungary.
authors.forename: David Laszlo
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Tarnoki
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology,Semmelweis University,Budapest,Hungary.
authors.forename: Zita
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Szekelyhidi
authors.affiliation: Department of Political Science,Central European University,Budapest,Hungary.
authors.forename: Levente
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Littvay
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology,Semmelweis University,Budapest,Hungary.
authors.forename: Ildiko
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Suveges
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology,Semmelweis University,Budapest,Hungary.
authors.forename: Janos
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nemeth
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology,Semmelweis University,Budapest,Hungary.
authors.forename: Zoltan Zsolt
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Nagy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000867:Anterior Chamber / Q000473:pathology*; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D015812:Glaucoma, Angle-Closure / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size / Q000235:genetics; D014429:Twins, Dizygotic / Q000235:genetics*; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic / Q000235:genetics*