Tear lactoferrin levels in chronic meibomitis associated with acne rosacea

To determine tear lactoferrin levels in patients with chronic diffuse meibomitis associated with acne rosacea and to investigate their role in the development and perpetuation of some inflammatory ocular surface complications.

In this non-randomized, controlled trial performed in a tertiary care center, eight patients with biopsy-proven acne rosacea and blepharitis, and ten patients with seborrheic blepharitis not associated with acne rosacea formed the study groups and ten normal patients were used as controls. Schirmer I test results, tear break-up time and radial immunodiffusion (Lactoplate) tests on tear samples of the three groups were compared.

Compared to controls, tear lactoferrin concentrations were lower in both the acne rosacea and seborrheic blepharitis groups. However, this decrease was significant in only the seborrheic blepharitis group (p = 0.026). One patient in the acne rosacea group, with the lowest measurement, developed bacterial keratitis.

Though within the normal range, tear lactoferrin levels in patients with acne rosacea and seborrheic blepharitis were lower than controls. Low concentrations of lactoferrin may play a role in the ocular surface inflammatory components associated with these diseases.