title: Test and symptoms in keratoconjunctivitis sicca and their correlation.
abstract: Results of dry eye tests and ocular symptoms were compared and correlated in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (1 degree SS), in patients with connective tissue disease differing from 1 degree SS, and in normal controls. Patients with 1 degree SS had many and pronounced ocular complaints, however, non-diagnostic for the disease. Break-up time and Schirmer-1 test results below 10 mm/5 min both had high sensitivity but low specificity, whereas the reverse was true for Rose-Bengal score and Schirmer-1 test below 5 mm/5 min. Presence of snake-like chromatin in conjunctival imprints and the lactotest on tear fluid did not qualify as alternative tests since they had very low specificity and were less sensitive than the Schirmer-1 test and break-up time. Cornea sensitivity was not found to be an appropriate test at all. In 21% of eyes the presence of keratoconjunctivitis sicca changed from one consultation to the next in patients with 1 degree SS. Examination for keratoconjunctivitis sicca should therefore be repeated in test negative cases where symptoms indicate 1 degree SS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Rigshospitalet and Eye Pathology Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Bjerrum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007638:Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013666:Tears / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D007781:Lactoferrin