Posters

Ocular surface changes in patients with familial mediterranean fever

Poster Details

First Author: M.Kosker TURKEY

Co Author(s):    M. Acar   N. Arslan   A. Sanal Dogan   M. Alp   C. Ozisler   C. Gurdal     

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Ocular involvement is rarely associated with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). It has been recently postulated that the ocular surface and tear-film functions of FMF patients might be affected due to the chronic inflammatory nature of FMF. The aim in our study was to evaluate the ocular surface changes and tear-film functions in patients with FMF.

Setting:

Departments of Ophthalmology, Rheumatology, Diagnostic Center of Genetic Diseases, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.

Methods:

We included 35 consecutive genetically diagnosed patients with FMF (group 1) and 35 controls (group 2) in this prospective study. All patients had genetic analysis of FMF gene mutations to support a clinic diagnosis. Ocular surface changes were evaluated by determining tear-film functions using Schirmer-I, BUT, corneal fluorescein and Lissamine Green tests. All participants completed the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire. A meibomian gland dropout score due to gland loss was obtained. Meibomian gland changes were scored from 0 to 6 (meiboscore). We also measured central corneal epithelial thickness and central corneal thickness. Results were compared between the groups.

Results:

32 patients had compound heterozygous mutations and 3 had homozygous mutations. Mean results on Schirmer-I test were 16.65±5.54 mm in group 1 and 17.95±4.15 mm in group 2 (p>0.05). Mean BUT was 4.82±3 seconds in group 1 and 13.31±2.36 seconds in group 2 (p=0.001). Mean corneal fluorescein and Lissamine green staining scores were 2.88±2.88 and 2.15±2.02 in group 1 and 0.21±0.42 and 0.16±0.37 in group 2 (p=0.001). The mean OSDI score was 28.1±21.1 in group 1 and 3.43±7.45 in group 2 (p=0.001). Mebioscore, mean central corneal epithelial thickness and central corneal thickness did not differ significantly between the groups (p>0.05).

Conclusions:

Despite normal tear production, the ocular surface and tear-film functions of FMF patients differ from those of healthy individuals. These changes may be related to the chronic inflammatory nature of FMF.

Financial Disclosure:

NONE