Posterior polymorphous corneal dystrophy-2 (PPCD2) is characterized by formation of blister-like lesions within the corneal endothelium or by regions of endothelial basement membrane thickening with associated corneal edema. The normal amitotic endothelial cells are replaced by epithelial-like cells that possess abundant intermediate filaments, desmosomes, and microvilli. The endothelium becomes multilayered and the abnormally proliferating cells may extend outwards from the cornea over the trabecular meshwork to cause glaucoma (summary by Biswas et al., 2001).
For a general phenotypic description and a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of PPCD, see PPCD1 (122000). [from
OMIM]