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Quantifying Ocular Surface Inflammation and Correlating It With Inflammatory Cell Infiltration In Vivo: A Novel
Giulio Ferrari1, Alessandro Rabiolo1, Fabio Bignami1
1Cornea and Ocular Surface Disease Unit Eye Repair Lab, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science
|November 4, 2015
Summary
A new semiautomated method objectively quantifies conjunctival redness by correlating image analysis with clinical scales and inflammatory cell counts. This tool aids in managing prevalent ocular disorders.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Medical Imaging
- Immunology
Background:
- Conjunctival redness is a key indicator in prevalent ocular disorders.
- Accurate quantification of redness is crucial for clinical assessment and patient management.
- Current methods for assessing redness may lack objectivity and reproducibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel, objective, and semiautomated method for quantifying conjunctival redness.
- To correlate the novel method's measurements with established clinical redness and symptom scales.
- To assess the relationship between quantified redness and inflammatory cell infiltration in the conjunctiva.
Main Methods:
- Eleven outpatients with varying degrees of conjunctival hyperemia were enrolled.
- Data collected included visual analogue scores (VAS), National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ 25), anterior segment photographs, and conjunctival impression cytology analyzed by flow cytometry.
- Photographs were graded using Efron, relative redness of image (RRI), and edge feature (EF) scales; flow cytometry identified inflammatory cell populations (e.g., CD45dim granulocytes, CD45bright leukocytes).
Main Results:
- The semiautomated method, using RRI and EF scores, showed significant correlations with clinical assessments (VAS, Efron scale) and inflammatory cell percentages.
- RRI and EF scores were positively correlated with granulocytes (CD45dim) and negatively with certain leukocyte populations (CD45brightCD3pos).
- High correlation (Spearman r = 0.78) was observed between RRI and EF scores, indicating method reproducibility.
Conclusions:
- The developed semiautomated method provides an objective and reproducible means to quantify conjunctival redness.
- This tool may assist clinicians in the follow-up and management of patients with prevalent ocular disorders characterized by redness.
- The method's correlation with clinical symptoms and inflammatory markers validates its potential clinical utility.
