Corneal nerve loss and increased Langerhans cells are associated with disease severity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

ABSTRACT:

Background/objectives

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a multisystem autoimmune disorder characterized by articular and extra-articular manifestations. Neuropathy is a poorly studied manifestation of RA. The aim of this study was to utilize the rapid non-invasive ophthalmic imaging technique of corneal confocal microscopy to identify whether there is evidence of small nerve fibre injury and immune cell activation in patients with RA.

Subjects/methods

Fifty consecutive patients with RA and 35 healthy control participants were enrolled in this single-centre, cross-sectional study conducted at a university hospital. Disease activity was assessed with the 28-Joint Disease Activity Score and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR). Central corneal sensitivity was measured with a C

SUBMITTER: Bitirgen G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10516870 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature