PURPOSE: To investigate the expression of CCL4/MIP-1beta in tears of patients with dry eye syndrome and its correlation with the tear surface parameters. METHODS: Forty patients with dry eye syndrome (seven Meibomian gland dysfunction and 33 non-Meibomian gland dysfunction patients) and 25 control subjects were recruited. The concentrations of CCL4 in tears were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The correlations between CCL4 levels and tear surface parameters including tear film break-up time (BUT), basal tear secretion (BST), tear clearance test (TCR), corneal sensation, keratoepitheliopathy (KEP) and conjunctival goblet cell density (GCD) were analyzed in patients with dry eye syndrome. RESULTS: The mean levels of MIP-1beta were 4.3+/-5.2 pg/ml in patients with dry eye syndrome and 81.6+/-294.3 pg/ml in control subjects (p=0.03). The mean levels in non-Meibomian gland disease patients (90.4+/-313.9 pg/ml) were significantly higher than those of Meibomian gland dysfunction patients (20.3+/-23.2 pg/ml, p=0.02). CCL4 levels correlated significantly with BST, TCR, KEP and GCD (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The level of MIP-1beta is elevated in tears of patients with dry eye syndrome and correlates with disease severity and tear surface parameters.
Chemokine CCL4 ; Dry Eye Syndromes ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Eye ; Goblet Cells ; Humans ; Meibomian Glands ; Sensation ; Tears

PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate the long-term effect of 0.05% cyclosporine A emulsion (Restasis, Allergan Inc. USA.) on dry eye associated with graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). METHODS: Sixteen eyes of 8 patients with severe dry eye associated with GVHD were treated with 0.05% cyclosporine A emulsion twice a day. Tear film parameters were evaluated before treatment and after 1, 3, 6, and 12 months of treatment. RESULTS: One month after treatment, tear break-up time improved from 3.88+/-1.78 s to 4.17+/-1.90 s (P=0.02). Three months after treatment, symptom score and basal secretion improved from 3.00+/-0.38 and 4.44+/-1.59 mm to 2.33+/-0.52 (P=0.04) and 5.42+/-2.50 mm (P=0.04), respectively. Twelve months after treatment, the keratoepitheliopathy score improved from 2.38+/-1.31 to 1.13+/-0.35 (P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Use of a 0.05% cyclosporine A emulsion is effective for dry eye associated with GVHD as it helps to increase tear secretion and to relieve symptoms. Treatment with 0.05% cyclosporine A emulsion for longer than 1 year may be necessary to improve keratoepitheliopathy.
Cyclosporine ; Dry Eye Syndromes ; Eye ; Graft vs Host Disease ; Humans ; Tears