Abstract
Purpose: :
To compare tear cytokine concentrations in patients with Sjögren syndrome, moderate non-Sjögren dry eye (NSDE), and mild dry eye .
Methods: :
Eleven patients with primary SS (SS group), 13 patients with NSDE (NS group), and 22 patients with mild dry eye (DE group) were included. In each patient, one eye with more severe dry eye signs was selected. Dry eye symptoms were evaluated using visual analogue scale and ocular surface disease index scores. Dry eye signs were measured using Schirmer-I test, tear film breakup time, and the rose bengal stain score. Tear samples were collected and analyzed. Concentrations of Interferon-γ, interleukin IL-4, IL-6, lL-8, IL-10, Il-12, IL-17 were measured using bead immunoassay.
Results: :
No statistically significant difference in dry eye symptoms or signs among the three groups. Tear concentrations of IL-12 (80.39±104.46 vs. 22.00±12.36 vs 20.20±17.26 pg/mL, P=0.023) and IL-17 (86.31±148.27 vs. 12.30±7.48 vs 7.3±14.47 pg/mL, P=0.030) were significantly higher in SS group.
Conclusions: :
Difference in tear cytokine profiles between SS and mild to moderate dry eye was observed, even though there was no significant difference in severity of dry eye signs and symptoms. These findings suggest that difference in pathogenesis may exist between SS and DE.
Keywords: cytokines/chemokines • cornea: tears/tear film/dry eye • autoimmune disease