Conjunctival Neutrophils Predict Progressive Scarring in Ocular Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Ocular mucous membrane pemphigoid (OcMMP) is a rare autoimmune disorder resulting in progressive conjunctival fibrosis and ocular surface failure leading to sight loss in up to 50%. This study was designed to optimize an ocular surface sampling technique for identification of novel biomarkers associated with disease activity and/or progressive fibrosis.

Methods

Fifty-seven patients with OcMMP underwent detailed examination of conjunctival inflammation and fibrosis using fornix depth measurement. Ocular surface impression cytology (OSIC) to sample superior bulbar conjunctiva combined with flow cytometry (OSIC-flow) profiled infiltrating leukocytes. Profiles were compared with healthy controls (HC) and disease controls (primary Sjögren's syndrome, pSS). Thirty-five OcM

SUBMITTER: Williams GP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5072540 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature