Aqueous humor composition in Fuchs' dystrophy.

Several studies have suggested differences in aqueous humor composition in Fuchs' dystrophy, including elevations in fibrinogen-related factors, compared with controls. In the current study, aqueous humor was obtained at surgery from 10 uninflamed eyes with advanced Fuchs' dystrophy and cataracts and 11 control eyes with cataracts alone. Total fibrinogen-related antigen was measured in a masked manner using an enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA). There was no statistically significant difference between the means of the two groups (0.281 +/- 0.292 (SD) and 0.176 +/- 0.090 mg/ml, respectively). Similarly, there was no difference in ELISA-determined aqueous humor small molecular weight fibrinogen-derived metabolites between the two groups, 623 +/- 141 and 550 +/- 55 fibrinogen equivalents, respectively. Also, no statistically significant difference was detected between Fuchs' dystrophy and control eyes in aqueous humor ascorbate, glucose, carbon dioxide, bicarbonate, and pH. Therefore, this study found no evidence of alterations in aqueous humor composition in Fuchs' dystrophy and supports the hypothesis that the disease is a primary disorder of the corneal endothelium.