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More on Ligneous
Conjunctivitis

The most common
manifestation of PLGD-11

Graphic representation of plasminogen deficiency symptoms presenting as woody eye growths
Symptoms & Signs Available Treatment Real patient stories
Graphic representation of plasminogen deficiency symptoms presenting as woody eye growths

What is Ligneous Conjunctivitis?

Ligneous conjunctivitis (LC) is a rare, chronic, and recurrent form of pseudomembranous conjunctivitis characterized by the formation of fibrinous pseudomembranes on the palpebral conjunctivae.1 It is the most common clinical manifestation of PLGD-1 with 87% of patients experiencing ocular involvement.2

Ligneous conjunctivitis symptoms & signs

Pseudomembranous conjunctivitis caused by plasminogen deficiency type 1, with a watery and stringy appearance
Watery, stringy pseudomembranous mass4,5*

Symptoms may progress

to the formation of pseudomembranes on the palpebral conjunctivae, eventually leading to mucosal thickening with a wood-like (ligneous) consistency that replaces the normal eyelid mucosa.4

Signs of LC include

mucoid discharge, chronic tearing, and redness of the conjunctivae often resembling other ocular conditions like bacterial conjunctivitis, pyogenic granuloma, conjunctival papilloma, or inclusion cysts.1,3

Ligneous conjunctivitis caused by congenital plasminogen deficiency type 1, manifesting as an eye lesion, prior to treatment
Fibrin-rich wood-like lesions on the conjunctiva; thickened, white, avascular4,5*

Signs and symptoms vary widely, can change over time, and may appear at different life stages—sometimes triggered by inflammation, irritation, injury or surgery.4,6

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*Real patients with PLGD-1

Left untreated, ligneous conjunctivitis can cause7

  • corneal damage
  • vision impairment
  • vision loss

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Corneal involvement with the
potential for blindness occurs in
~33% of cases7

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Ligneous conjunctivitis can mimic other common ocular conditions.3

Be sure to include LC in your differential diagnosis.3

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Early diagnosis
leads to hope
Ryan & Riley

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The multi-systemic nature of PLGD-1

Graphic showing that 8 out of 10 patients with ligneous conjunctivitis exhibited lesions on other parts of their bodies

Individuals with ligneous conjunctivitis exhibited lesions in other parts of the body2†

†Patient pool primarily originates from Turkey and various Arabian countries (61%). When compared to previously published cases, this group of patients presented at a younger mean age (1 year and 10 months old) and shows a high rate of consanguinity (61%).

Due to the systemic nature of PLGD-1, LC often occurs alongside lesions on mucous membranes throughout the body. This includes the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, mouth, female genital tract, middle ear, renal system, skin, and brain.4

Recognize other signs of PLGD-1 >

Keep an eye out for signs of lesions in other locations

Symptoms of PLGD-1 often mimic common conditions such as recurrent pneumonia, ear infections, inflammatory bowel disease, and other routine diagnoses.8

OTHER SIGNS & SYMPTOMS >

References: 1. Schuster V, Seregard S. Ligneous conjunctivitis. Surv Ophthalmol. 2003;48(4):369-388. 2. Klammt J, Kobelt L, Aktas D, et al. Identification of three novel plasminogen (PLG) gene mutations in a series of 23 patients with low PLG activity. Thromb Haemost. 2011;105(3):454-460. 3. Shapiro AD, Nakar C. How I treat type 1 plasminogen deficiency. Blood. 2025;145(25):2954-2965. 4. Schuster V, Hügle B, Tefs K. Plasminogen deficiency. J Thromb Haemost. 2007;5(12):2315-2322. 5. Data on file. Kedrion Biopharma Inc. 6. Mehta R, Shapiro AD. Plasminogen deficiency. Haemophilia. 2008;14(6):1261-1268. 7. Shapiro AD, Menegatti M, Palla R, et al. An international registry of patients with plasminogen deficiency (HISTORY). Haematologica. 2020;105(3):554-561. 8. Congenital type 1 plasminogen deficiency. NORD. Updated February 6, 2025. Accessed December 4, 2025. https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/congenital-plasminogen-deficiency