Analysis of human tear protein profiles using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)

Using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) the tear protein profiles were measured in controls, patients with Sjögren's disease, questionable dry eye (idiopathic dry eye), idiopathic chronic conjunctivitis and the corneal melting syndrome. Qualitative comparison of the protein profiles of patients with Sjögren's disease, corneal melting and IgA deficiency shows a marked difference in the heights of various peaks as compared to the profiles of the control group. The total protein content of tears in controls and in patients with idiopathic chronic conjunctivitis is age dependent and appears to increase until the age of 40 and to decrease afterwards. The peaks containing IgA, lactoferrin and lysozyme were measured in various eye diseases. In idiopathic chronic conjunctivitis and in the corneal melting syndrome no differences were seen in comparison with controls. In patients with idiopathic dry eye and Sjögren's disease a marked decrease in the three proteins was seen. The study presented here indicates that the HPLC analysis of tears is a promising technique which may increase our knowledge of this ocular fluid.