J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  1976 Mar;17(1):101-103.

Peripheral Corneal Degeneration in Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Choi O
• Kim HB
• Kong YT

Abstract

In 1952, Dr. Collier observed first a characteristic lesion of marginal corneal furrow in the patient who had rheumatoid arthritis with Sjogren's syndrome. The furrows are usually bilateral, but one may be more advanced than the other. This corneal thining may be superficial and nonprogressive or it may progress to epithelial breakdown, lamellar collagen dissolution with marked thining and perforation. Almost absence of inflammatory reaction in this furrow may be differentiated from polyarteritis nodosa. Terrien's marginal degeneration may be differentiated from this furrow by age, vascularization in the thining bed, and encircling the cornea. The case reported in the following was a 42 year old woman who had bilateral marginal furrows in the cornea with rheumatoid arthritis Which was documented by positive C-reactive protein, positive RA factor, increased ESR and hand X-ray finding suggestive of rheumatoid arthritis.

MeSH Terms

Adult
Arthritis, Rheumatoid*
C-Reactive Protein
Collagen
Cornea
Female
Hand
Humans
Polyarteritis Nodosa
Sjogren's Syndrome
C-Reactive Protein
Collagen