Abstract
Purpose :
We analyzed the longitudinal changes of meibomian gland morphology and tear dynamics changes after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) associated with related with symptoms for the dry eye.
Methods :
This retrospective, noncomparative, observational study was conducted in patients after HSCT due to hematologic malignancies. The following tests were performed in order in every ophthalmologic examinations as follows: Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, slit-lamp examination of the ocular surface to assess tear breakup time (TBUT), corneal fluorescein staining, lid margin scoring, Schirmer test without anesthesia, and noncontact infrared meibography. The examination was performed .before and after HSCT; one, two, and three months, respectively.
Results :
A total of 136 eyes in 68 patients were included. As compared with the group (before HSCT), there is statistical significance of OSDI score (p < 0.05), ocular staining score (Oxford) (p < 0.05) and meiboscore (total, upper, and lower) in other groups (1, 2, and 3 months after HSCT, respectively). Among them, 5 eyes in 4 patients showed improved meiboscore in meibography.
Conclusions :
There was no difference in the severity of ocular GVHD grading and ocular surface parameters and meibomian gland loss was seen during the follow-up period. However, it is still not clear whether gland dropout indicates actual physical loss or whether the changes of surround soft tissue. Further histologic examinations are needed.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2017 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Baltimore, MD, May 7-11, 2017.