Darcyoscintigraphy in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction

Session Details

Session Title: Special Cases I

Session Date/Time: Sunday 06/09/2015 | 14:30-16:00

Paper Time: 15:38

Venue: Room 10

First Author: : A.Kemeny-Beke HUNGARY

Co Author(s): :    S. Barna   A. Rentka   I. Garai              

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To measure tear-clearance in Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) patients with a dynamic nuclear medicine method, dacryoscintigraphy (DSCI).

Setting:

Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.

Methods:

48 patients were examined including 24 healthy volunteers and 22 MGD patients. Tear break up time (TBUT) and Schirmer I test were performed prior to DSCI measurements. During DSCI one drop of a solution with 10 MBq 99mTc sodium pertechnetate was instilled with a micropipette into the lacrimal lake of both eyes. Measurements were performed according to a dynamic data acquisition protocol, which resulted in summed DSCI images. Data were also evaluated in special regions of interest (ROIs) separately, and consecutive time activity curves were created. Tear clearance (T ½) values were calculated based on the activity curves.

Results:

The clearance (T ½) values were 6.85 min (SD±1.8) in MGD patients and 25.75 (SD±6.35) in normal controls, respectively. The difference was significant (p<0.01). Schirmer I test values were 7.68 (SD±.84) in MGD patients and 15.58 (SD±6.87) in the control group. TBUT values were 5.64 (SD±2.73) in MGD patients and 16.69 (SD±2.84) in normal patients.

Conclusions:

Tear clearance values were significantly higher in MGD patients than is normal volunteers, which may be the result of increased drainage of tear from the eyes towards the nasal cavity in MGD patients. The reasons for increased drainage in MGD patients without reflex tearing is yet to be investigated.

Financial Interest:

NONE