Aims: To evaluate mutations in the transforming-growth-factor-beta-induced (TGFBI) gene in patients of Czech origin with autosomal dominant corneal dystrophies.
Methods: The coding sequence of the TGFBI gene was analysed in 22 affected Czech individuals from 7 apparently unrelated families. Comparison of phenotype to genotype was performed.
Results: A H626P mutation, previously only described in a family with a variant of lattice corneal dystrophy (LCD), was detected in one family with superficial geographic corneal opacities. Light microscopy of 2 samples obtained following either a prior superficial keratectomy or keratoplasty showed amyloid but no fuchsinophilic deposits. In a family with LCD type I, an R124C mutation was identified. The R124L mutation was shown to be causative of Reis-Bucklers corneal dystrophy in 2 families. A family with Thiel-Behnke corneal dystrophy exhibited an R555Q mutation. In 2 families with granular corneal dystrophy type I, the typical R555W change was identified.
Conclusion: The phenotype of the family with the H626P mutation differed from the phenotype previously reported for this change.
(c) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel