Posters

Conjunctival brush cytology changes induced by systemic isotretinoin treatment

Poster Details

First Author: N.Yalçındağ TURKEY

Co Author(s): N. Yalçındağ   H. Atilla                 

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To evaluate the effect of systemic isotretinoin treatment on the ocular surface by using conjunctival brush cytology.

Setting:

Ankara University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Ankara, Turkey

Methods:

Twenty-four patients who were treated with oral isotretinoin because of acne vulgaris were examined prospectively. A complete ophthalmologic examination was done before treatment and 1 month, 2 months, 3 months and 4 months after treatment. Additionally, conjunctival brush cytology was performed before and 4 months after treatment.

Results:

Before and after isotretinoin treatment, there was not significant difference in refractive error, flourescein break-up time and Schirmer I examination. The conjunctival brush cytology results were grade 0 in 75% of the patients (18/24), and grade 1 in 25% (6/24). Four months after, cytology were worsened from grade 0 to grade 1 in 4 cases, from grade 1 to 2 in 2 cases and from grade 0 to 2 in 2 cases. In the remaining 16 cases no cytologic change was determined. The cytology results showed statisticaly significant difference in conjunctival metaplasia before and 4 months after isotretinoin teratment (p=0.008).

Conclusions:

In this study, conjunctival epithelial abnormalities and decrease in number of goblet cells were determined 4 months after oral isotretinoin treatment.

Financial Disclosure:

None