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It has been demonstrated that topical administration of rebamipide, which is an antiulcer agent, increases the mucin level of the tear film and ameliorates ocular surface conditions such as lid wiper epitheliopathy. The aim of the present study was to analyze the changes in goblet cell number, cell proliferation, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) induced by topical rebamipide addition to the lid wiper of humans. A total of 30 eyelid tissue samples were obtained during involutional entropion surgeries, fixed in paraformaldehyde, embedded in paraffin and divided into two groups: Rebamipide or non-rebamipide. The tissues in the rebamipide group were obtained from patients who had a medical history of topical rebamipide use prior to surgery. The number of goblet cells was counted under light microscopy. A total of 22 eyelid tissue samples were further examined using immunohistochemistry with anti-Ki-67 and anti-EGFR antibodies to evaluate cell proliferation and EGFR expression, respectively. Histologically, the lid wiper and palpebral conjunctiva were clearly identified in the tissues. The number of goblet cells was significantly higher in the rebamipide group compared with the non-rebamipide group (P=0.0367). There was no significant difference in lid wiper cell proliferation between the rebamipide and non-rebamipide groups. Immunohistochemistry revealed that EGFR levels in the lid wiper epithelial cells were significantly higher in the rebamipide group compared with the non-rebamipide group (P=0.0237). These results suggest that topical rebamipide application increases the number of goblet cells in the lid wiper, which in turn upregulates the expression of EGFR. These findings may be clinically relevant and provide a therapeutic basis for the treatment of ocular disease such as dry eye and lid wiper epitheliopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The topical administration of rebamipide (Mucosta®), an antiulcer agent, clinically increases the mucin level of tear film. The aim of this study was to report the histological changes of goblet cells following the topical administration of rebamipide to a patient with nevus of the lacrimal caruncle. A 62-year-old male exhibited a pigmented nodule located in the lacrimal caruncle in the left eye. An excisional biopsy and subsequent surgical resection were conducted at the caruncle, prior to and three months after topical rebamipide administration. Histologically, a biopsy specimen revealed a pigmented nevus beneath the caruncle epithelium containing a few goblet cells [4 cells/high power field (HPF)]. A few nevus cells were present at the surgical margin. By contrast, the secondary resected specimen obtained three months after the initiation of topical rebamipide treatment revealed the epithelium and nevus, where numerous goblet cells were present (28 cells/HPF), and mucin-like substances were m arkedly s ecreted f rom t he goblet c ells. Topical rebamipide markedly increased the number of goblet cells and stimulated the secretion of mucin-like substances in the caruncular tissue of a human patient. These results suggest that topical rebamipide is useful in patients following surgery and/or biopsy to support tissue repair of the ocular surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]