Title:Inflammatory Cytokines Correlate with Dry Eye Indexes Estimated by Keratograph in Healthy Subjects
Volume: 18
Issue: 4
Author(s): Rania Fahmy, May N. Al-Muammar, Mona Alonazi, Ramesa Shafi Bhat and Afaf El-Ansary*
Affiliation:
- Central Laboratory, Female Center for Medical Studies and Scientific Section, King Saud University, Riyadh,Egypt
Keywords:
Cytokines, dry eyes, keratograph, tear breakup time, tear meniscus height, non-invasive.
Abstract:
Background: Inflammation plays a major role in dry eye diseases and is the prime target
in clinical treatments of the disease.
Objective: To determine whether the inflammatory cytokines in the tear film of patients with dry
eye correlate with parameters such as Tear Break-Up Time (TBUT) and Tear Meniscus Height
(TMH) and could be used together as predictive biomarkers of disease severity.
Methods: This study included 58 eyes (29 female subjects; age, 19–25 years) comprising 20 normal
eyes (control), 20 eyes (level 1 dryness), and 18 eyes (level 2 dryness). Dryness level 1 or 2 is
keratographic diagnosis according to the tear break-up time cut-off value obtained. After ophthalmic
examinations, including determination of non-invasive TBUT average and first second and
TMH using Keratograph 4 (to measure dryness level), tears of all participants were collected. Five
cytokines, including interleukin 6, 10, 12, interferon-γ, and tumor necrosis factor-α, were measured
using ELISA.
Results: Significant changes were observed in all measured cytokines and these changes correlated
with eye dryness severity scores. Both groups (levels 1 & 2) showed remarkable changes related to
ocular surface alterations in clinical examinations. Significantly, shorter TBUT and TMH were recorded
in both groups and were positively correlated with the dryness severity.
Conclusion: Cytokines could be used as predictive markers for pre-clinical diagnosis of dry eye
diseases and as prognostic markers to monitor treatment effectiveness.
