Ocular findings in cystic fibrosis patients receiving vitamin A supplementation

Vitamin A deficiency with eye symptoms has been reported in patients with cystic fibrosis who received the recommended daily intake of vitamin A. We measured serum retinol, dark adaptation, contrast sensitivity, and dry eye status in 35 adult cystic fibrosis patients to ascertain whether they had oc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Graefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology 1995-11, Vol.233 (11), p.709-713
Main Authors: MORKEBERG, J. C, EDMUND, C, PRAUSE, J. U, LANNG, S, KOCH, C, MICHAELSEN, K. F
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Color Vision Defects - etiology
Conjunctiva - pathology
Contrast Sensitivity
Cystic Fibrosis - blood
Cystic Fibrosis - complications
Dark Adaptation
Female
General and cellular metabolism. Vitamins
Humans
Incidence
Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca - etiology
Male
Medical sciences
Night Blindness - blood
Night Blindness - drug therapy
Night Blindness - etiology
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Vitamin A - blood
Vitamin A - therapeutic use
Vitamin A Deficiency - blood
Vitamin A Deficiency - drug therapy
Vitamin A Deficiency - etiology
Xerophthalmia - blood
Xerophthalmia - drug therapy
Xerophthalmia - etiology
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Summary:Vitamin A deficiency with eye symptoms has been reported in patients with cystic fibrosis who received the recommended daily intake of vitamin A. We measured serum retinol, dark adaptation, contrast sensitivity, and dry eye status in 35 adult cystic fibrosis patients to ascertain whether they had ocular signs or symptoms. Median serum retinol concentration was 1.95 mumol/l, range 1.08-4.01 mumol/l, with no values indicating vitamin A deficiency. Retinal light sensitivity was normal. Nineteen patients had reduced contrast sensitivity. Conjunctival imprints all showed plenty of goblet cells, but were characteristic of dry eye in 42% of patients (n = 14). Decreased tear film stability was found in 49% (n = 17), tear production was low in 31% (n = 11), and 23% (n = 8) showed an increased amount of dying epithelial cells. Nine patients (26%) had keratoconjunctivitis sicca according to the Copenhagen criteria. Our patients had no biochemical or clinical signs of vitamin A deficiency. We speculate that the high incidence of dry eye could be a primary manifestation of cystic fibrosis.
ISSN:0721-832X
1435-702X
DOI:10.1007/BF00164674