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Tear Function Alterations and Conjunctival Impression Cytology Findings in Patients With Gout
Selman Belviranli1, Huseyin B Turk, Pembe Oltulu
1Department of Ophthalmology (S.B., E.M., R.O.), Meram Faculty of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey ; Department of Ophthalmology (H.B.T.), Dr. Ersin Arslan Research and Training Hospital, Gaziantep, Turkey ; Department of Pathology (P.O.), Meram Faculty of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey ; Department of Pathology (N.T.), 25 Aralik State Hospital, Gaziantep, Turkey; and Department of Rheumatology (A.K., H.A.), Meram Faculty of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey.
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the tear functions and conjunctival impression cytology (CIC) findings of patients with gout and compare them with healthy controls.
Methods:
Thirty-four patients with gout (group 1) and 32 age-matched and gender-matched healthy individuals (group 2) were included in this cross-sectional study. Schirmer 1 test, tear breakup time (TBUT), Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score, and CIC grade were evaluated and compared between the groups.
Results:
There was no significant difference between the groups in gender and age (P=0.923 and P=0.078, respectively). The mean of Schirmer 1 test result was significantly lower in group 1 (9.74±6.03 mm) than that in group 2 (17.16±9.33 mm) (P<0.001). The TBUT was also significantly lower in group 1 (7.00±2.09 seconds) than that in group 2 (12.75±5.25 seconds) (P<0.001). The OSDI score (20.04±12.92) was significantly higher in group 1 than that in group 2 (6.19±10.07) (P<0.001). Although 10 patients (29.4%) in group 1 had the CIC grade of 2 to 3, none of the controls had CIC grade 2 to 3. The mean CIC grade in group 1 (1.15±0.89) was significantly higher than that in group 2 (0.47±0.51) (P<0.001).
Conclusions:
The results of this study suggest that ocular surface alterations assessed by CIC and tear function abnormalities are more common in patients with gout.
