[Dry eye syndrome in patients with biliary cirrhosis]

Ophthalmic state of 18 women patients between 40 and 69 years of age with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) was studied. Tear secretion was studied by Schirmer I., break up time and conjunctival and corneal bengal rose staining tests. In 15 cases serious degree of keratoconjunctivitis sicca has been revealed. Xanthelasma of the lid was found in three patients. Visual functions were intact. Kayser-Fleischer ring was absent in every case. There was no connection between the duration or laboratory characteristics of the PBC and the severity of the keratoconjunctivitis sicca. In nine patients of the cases requiring tear substitution eye drops of methylcellulosum available in Hungary were insufficient. Hydroxypropyl-methylcellulosum drops of eye gel containing peptides of low molecular weight eliminated the symptoms in these cases. The authors emphasize that PBC should be considered as a possible underlying disease in women over 30 years with severe dry eye syndrome.