Conjunctival impression cytology and tear‐film changes in patients with familial Mediterranean fever

• Published in: Acta ophthalmologica (Oxford, England) England), 2009-02, Vol.87 (1), p.39-43
• Main Authors: Karalezli, Aylin, Borazan, Mehmet, Yilmaz, Sema, Kiyici, Halil, Akova, Yonca Aydin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Case-Control Studies; Cell Count; Conjunctiva - pathology; Conjunctival Diseases - etiology; Conjunctival Diseases - metabolism; familial Mediterranean fever; Familial Mediterranean Fever - complications; Familial Mediterranean Fever - metabolism; Female; Goblet Cells - pathology; Humans; impression cytology; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases - etiology; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases - metabolism; Male; Middle Aged; ocular surface; Prospective Studies; Tears - metabolism; tear‐film functions; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1755-375X; 1755-3768
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2008.01437.x

. Purpose:  To evaluate the ocular surface changes and tear‐film functions in patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). Methods:  This prospective case–control clinical study examined 35 patients with FMF (group 1) and 35 controls (group 2). All patients underwent a full ophthalmological examination. Ocular surface changes were evaluated by determining cell content of surface conjunctival epithelium using conjunctival impression cytology and tear‐film functions using Schirmer‐I, break‐up time (BUT), corneal fluorescein and Rose Bengal tests. Subjective ocular complaints were scored with a four‐point scale. Between‐group results were compared. Results:  In group 1, impression cytology revealed grade 0 changes in 15 eyes, grade 1 changes in 11 eyes and grade 2 changes in nine eyes in group 1; in group 2, it revealed grade 0 changes in 27 eyes, grade 1 changes in five eyes and grade 2 changes in three eyes (p = 0.013). Mean goblet cell density was 765 ± 45 cells/mm2 in group 1 and 1730 ± 100 cells/mm2 in group 2 (P