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2012 Agenda and Abstracts | < Previous | Next >

2012 OMIG Abstract 10

C-reactive Protein Levels and Tear Function Parameters
A. Galor, A. Crane, W. Feuer
Miami VAMC, Bascom Palmer, University of MIami, Miami, FL

Purpose: The goal of our study was to evaluate whether a correlation exists between C-reactive protein and tear film parameters in men. We felt that this study was an important first step in determining what link, if any, exists between systemic inflammation and dry eye syndrome.

Methods: 263 patients were recruited prospectively from the Miami Veterans’ Administration eye clinic irrespective of tear function status. Patients with CRP levels of 10 mg/L or higher were excluded to remove patients undergoing acute inflammatory processes, leaving 233 participants. Data collected included the five-item dry eye questionnaire (DEQ5), tear osmolarity (TearLAB, San Diego, CA), tear breakup time, corneal staining, Schirmer’s test, morphologic and qualitative eyelid and meibomian gland assessment, and serum CRP levels. Pearson coefficients were calculated to evaluate the correlation between CRP and tear film parameters. Independent two-sample t-tests were performed to compare mean CRP values with tear parameters in a binary fashion, with tear parameters being classified as abnormal or not abnormal.

Results: The mean age of our population was 69 years (standard deviation 9). 71% patients were white and 28% identified as Hispanic. The results of statistical analysis, including Pearson coefficients, student T-test results, and their respective p-values, are shown in the Table. No statistically significant correlations were found between CRP levels and tear film parameters in the study population.

Table: The relationship between C-reactive protein (CRP) and tear film parameters.


Tear film parameters

Pearson

p-value

Mean
CRP in normal value group (n)

Mean
CRP in abnormal value group (n)

p-value

DEQ5 symptom score

-0.07

0.29

2.85 (127)

2.67 (106)

0.51

Tear osmolaritya

0.05

0.50

2.74 (201)

3.04 (25)

0.51

Corneal staininga

-0.04

0.53

2.85 (173)

2.57 (59)

0.40

Tear break up timea

0.07

0.30

2.86 (140)

2.63 (93)

0.45

Schirmer’sa

0.07

0.28

2.84 (184)

2.51 (49)

0.36

MG qualitya

-0.03

0.63

2.81 (136)

2.72 (96)

0.75

Lid vascularitya

0.02

0.78

2.74 (187)

2.88 (46)

0.71

MG orifice plugginga

0.07

0.26

2.65 (164)

3.08 (68)

0.17

aMore severe value of the two eyes

Conclusions: This study was performed to fill a gap regarding the association between systemic inflammation and DES. We found that CRP levels did not correlate with ocular surface symptoms or tear film parameters.

Disclosure: S     VA Career Development Award

2012 Agenda and Abstracts | < Previous | Next >

 

 

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