Blepharospasm, dry eye and extractable nuclear antigen antibodies

To study whether there is an association between benign essential blepharospasm and Sjögren's syndrome by analyzing the presence of antibodies to extractable nuclear antigens in this population.

Seventy-two patients with benign essential blepharospasm (BEB) were included in this study. We excluded patients with hemifacial spasm or blepharospasm secondary to known corneal pathology. We recorded results of Schirmer I testing as well as levels of anti-SSA/Ro and anti-SSB/La antibodies.

Our study included 72 patients (144 eyes), of which 62 (86.1%) were women. The mean age was 74.3±10.73 years. The mean Schirmer I test result was 3.14±4.00mm. Five women (8% of this female population) were found to have positive anti-SSA/Ro and anti-SSB/La antibodies. Their mean age was 65.66±13.24 years, while the mean age of the antibody-negative patients was 75.42±9.27 years. There was no statistically significant difference between the Schirmer I tests of the antibody positive and negative patients.

This study demonstrates a possible association between Sjögren's syndrome and benign essential blepharospasm, justifying anti-SSA/Ro and anti-SSB/La testing in these patients.