Posters

Tear fluid analysis in the neurodegenerative diseases

Poster Details

First Author: E.Polito ITALY

Co Author(s):    P. Mellace   F. Martino   Y. Litasova   T. Bacci   A. Tarantello   S. Bagaglia     

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurosciences Siena University, Italy

Setting:

: to analyse the tear fluid of patients with neurodegenerative diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease in search of new biomarkers.

Methods:

14 MS patients (mean age �Â�± SD [years]: 44.5 �Â�± 13.4), 10 PD patients (53 �Â�± 14.6), and 8 AD patients (63 �Â�± 5.4) recruited at the University of Siena were included in this study. Sixteen healthy control patients (46.2�Â�±12.4) were also enrolled. The Schirmer strip test was used to sample the lacrimal fluid. Protein analysis was carried out through Bradford protein assay and Western Blot.

Results:

Total tear protein was significantly increased in the MS group, PD group and AD group compared with healthy control group. Alpha-1 antichymotrypsin was statistically significantly elevated in MS group. Alpha-1 antichymotrypsin was correlated with the cognitive impairment and physical disability.

Conclusions:

Biological abnormalities such as modifications in the lacrimal proteome may be associated with systemic diseases. Alpha-1 antichymotrypsin elevation in tear fluid emerges as a good biomarker for the diagnosis and progression of MS.

Financial Disclosure:

NONE