[Immediate hypersensitivity to lacrimal gland proteins in sicca syndromes]

A biological study was conducted on tears from 20 subjects with a clinical sicca syndrome. Electrophoresis of lacrymal proteins, determination of lacrymal and salivary immunoglobulins G, and a human basophil degranulation test (HBDT) with a lacrymal gland extract as antigen were performed in each patient. Three different groups could be distinguished: a group with normal electrophoresis and normal HBDT corresponding to hyposecretion; a second group with abnormal electrophoresis and negative HBDT corresponding to an inflammatory state of the lacrymal gland; and a third group with abnormal electrophoresis and positive HBDT corresponding to a deficit in synthesis function of the lacrymal gland. These findings demonstrate that HBDT with lacrymal gland extract as antigen is a reliable means of diagnosis of the sicca syndrome.