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Updated: Jun 26, 2026
Bead Based Multiplex Assay for Analysis of Tear Cytokine Profiles
Published on: October 13, 2017
Increased level of (1,3)-beta-D-glucan in tear fluid of mycotic keratitis
Yuichi Kaji1, Takahiro Hiraoka, Tetsuro Oshika
1Department of Ophthalmology, Tsukuba University Institute of Clinical Medicine, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. kajiyuichi@hotmail.com
Purpose:
Increased concentration of (1,3)-beta-D-glucan, one of the major components of fungal cell walls, is detected in the serum of systemic fungal infection. In our study, the concentration of (1,3)-beta-D-glucan was measured in the tear fluid of patients with mycotic keratitis.
Methods:
Tear fluid was collected from patients with fungal keratitis (n = 4) and bacterial corneal ulcers (n = 4) with or without corneal scraping. In addition, tear fluid was collected from patients without corneal diseases.
Results:
The concentration of (1,3)-beta-D-glucan in tear fluid collected without corneal scraping was 4.0 +/- 3.5, 5.8 +/- 2.6, 184 +/- 128 pg/ml in the control, bacterial corneal ulcer, and mycotic keratitis samples respectively. The concentration of (1,3)-beta-D-glucan in tear fluid collected after scraping the corneal lesions with a tip of glass capillary was 4.4 +/- 1.3, 8.2 +/- 5.2 and >1,000 pg/ml in the control, bacterial ulcer, and mycotic keratitis samples respectively.
Conclusions:
A significant increase in (1,3)-beta-D-glucan was detected in tear samples from patients with mycotic keratitis. Measuring the concentration of (1,3)-beta-D-glucan in tear fluid might be helpful in the diagnosis of mycotic keratitis.
