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In Vivo Confocal Microscopic Evaluation of Corneal Langerhans Cells in Dry Eye Patients§
- Source :
- Scopus-Elsevier, The Open Ophthalmology Journal
- Publication Year :
- 2014
- Publisher :
- Bentham Science Publishers Ltd., 2014.
-
Abstract
- Purpose. To assess inflammatory involvement of cornea in dry eye by means of confocal microscopy, evaluating the presence and distribution of Langherans cells (LCs). Methods: 98 eyes of 49 subjects were enrolled: 18 subjects affected by Sjögren Syndrome Dry Eye (SSDE), 17 with Non-Sjögren Syndrome Dry Eye (NSSDE), 14 healthy volunteeers. Dry eye symptoms, tear film, ocular surface damage and corneal confocal microscopy were analized. Results: A significant increase of LCs density was observed at sub-basal nerve plexus (SSDE = 79 cells/mm2 and NDE = 22 cells/mm2; p = 0,0031) and sub-epithelial nerve plexus (SSDE = 38 cells/mm2 and NDE = 3 cells/mm2; p = 0,0169) in central cornea of SSDE group. An increased number of LCs from the center to the periphery of the cornea was observed, significant only in healthy volunteers group. In dry eye patients there was an increase in LCs density in both peripheral and central cornea with a significant difference between NDE (14,66 cells/mm2) and SSDE (56,66 cells/mm2) only in central cornea (p = 0,0028). In SSDE group, mean density of LCs in central cornea results also superior to NSSDE group (29,33 cells/mm2). There was no correlation between LCs density and dry eye symptoms, tear film deficiency and ocular surface damage. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the activation of an inflammatory and immunological reaction in cornea of NSSDE and SSDE patients. Confocal microscopy can be an important diagnostic tool in evaluation and follow-up of dry eye disease.
- Subjects :
- Pathology
medicine.medical_specialty
genetic structures
Confocal
Confocal microscopy
cornea
dry eye
langherans cells
sj gren
Sjögren syndrome
Article
law.invention
In vivo
law
Cornea
Ophthalmology
Healthy volunteers
medicine
business.industry
Significant difference
Nerve plexus
medicine.disease
eye diseases
medicine.anatomical_structure
sense organs
business
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 18743641
- Volume :
- 8
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- The Open Ophthalmology Journal
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....8b0d8e2efc2ac99fe8f4a5986bf1df6c