Purpose:
To determine the presence of T–lymphocyte subpopulations(CD4 and CD8) with respect to the clinical severity in pterygiaand examine the effect of topical anti–inflammatorieson the presence of T–lymphocytes.
Methods:
Retrospective, observational case series. Pterygiumspecimens from 19 eyes of 19 patients and normal conjunctivafrom 1 eye of 1 control patient were histopathologically andimmunohistochemically studied for T–lymphoctye subpopulationsby a masked, certified examiner. Main outcome measures includedevidence of T–lymphocyte presence and the effect of priortopical anti–inflammatories and clinical severity on theextent of T–lymphocytes presence in pterygia.
Results:
16 (84%) of eyes with pterygia displayed marked presenceof T–lymphocytes (CD4 or CD8) compared to absent to tracepresence in the control eye. There was no significant differencein amount of T–lymphoctye subpopulations based on clinicalseverity of pterygia (p=0.56). A history of topical anti–inflammatoryuse did not affect the presence or amount of T–lymphocytes.
Conclusions:
T–lymphocytic presence in pterygia supportsthe premise that cellular immunity and immunopathologic mechanismsplay a role in the pathogenesis of pterygia. The effect of theclinically observed severity and the role of local immunosuppressionon inflammation, prevention, and progression of pterygia needto be further evaluated.
Keywords: Pterygium • conjunctiva