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Krukenberg's spindle

AI overview

Krukenberg's spindle is the name given to the pattern formed on the inner surface of the cornea by pigmented iris cells that are shed during the mechanical rubbing of posterior pigment layer of the iris with the zonules that are deposited as a result of the currents of the aqueous humor.

Key points
  • The sign was described in 1899 by Friedrich Ernst Krukenberg, a German pathologist specialising in ophthalmology.
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    The sign was described in 1899 by Friedrich Ernst Krukenberg (1871-1946), who was a German pathologist specialising in ophthalmology
  • It is caused by pigmented iris cells shed during mechanical rubbing of the posterior pigment layer of the iris with the zonules.
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    pigmented iris cells that are shed during the mechanical rubbing of posterior pigment layer of the iris with the zonules
Diagnosis
  • Differential diagnosis includes iritis, which presents as a painful red eye with photophobia associated with inflammation.
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    Painful red eye with photophobia associated with inflammation
  • Differential diagnosis includes vortex keratopathy (cornea verticillata), caused by netarsudil eye drops or chronic amiodarone use for cardiac arrhythmias.
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    Corneal deposits also known as cornea verticillata , caused by netarsudil eye drops or chronic amiodarone use for cardiac arrhythmias
  • Differential diagnosis includes corneal guttata, which are non-transparent collagen deposits appearing following loss of corneal endothelial cells.
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    Non-transparent collagen deposits appearing following loss of corneal endothelial cells
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Krukenberg's spindle
Slit lamp photograph showing Krukenberg's Spindle as pigment cell deposits on the cornea
SpecialtyOphthalmology

Krukenberg's spindle is the name given to the pattern formed on the inner surface of the cornea by pigmented iris cells that are shed during the mechanical rubbing of posterior pigment layer of the iris with the zonules that are deposited as a result of the currents of the aqueous humor. The sign was described in 1899 by Friedrich Ernst Krukenberg (1871-1946), who was a German pathologist specialising in ophthalmology.[1]

Differential diagnosis

Iritis

  • Painful red eye with photophobia associated with inflammation

Vortex keratopathy

Corneal guttata

  • Non-transparent collagen deposits appearing following loss of corneal endothelial cells[3]

  1. Krukenberg F. (1899) Beiderseitige angeborene Melanose der Hornhaut. Klin Mbl Augenheilkd 37:254-258.
  2. Chew, E; Ghosh, M; McCulloch, C (June 1982). "Amiodarone-induced cornea verticillata". Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology. 17 (3): 96–9. PMID 7116220.
  3. Akimune C, Watanabe H, Maeda N, et al. (January 2000). "Corneal guttata associated with the corneal dystrophy resulting from a betaig-h3 R124H mutation". The British Journal of Ophthalmology. 84 (1): 67–71. doi:10.1136/bjo.84.1.67. PMC 1723238. PMID 10611102.