Long-term course of tear gland function in patients with keratoconjunctivitis sicca and Sjögren's syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the course of tear gland function of patients with keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) associated with primary (KCS-PSS) or secondary Sjögren's syndrome (KCS-SSS), and of patients with KCS not related to Sjögren's syndrome (KCS-NS).


METHODS
In 106 patients with dry eye an ophthalmic diagnosis of KCS was made. Subsequent evaluations revealed a diagnosis of KCS-PSS in 31, KCS-SS in 19, and KCS-NS in 56 patients. Follow up assessments have been performed 10-12 years after initial diagnosis.


RESULTS
At baseline and at follow up tear gland function tests were worse in patients with KCS-PSS compared with the other forms of KCS. At follow up in the KCS-SSS patient group the tear gland function variables returned to marginal normal limits. In contrast with expectation, a marked improvement of the tear gland function variables in the KCS-NS patient group was noted.


CONCLUSIONS
In KCS-PSS patients tear gland function is characterised by a steady state situation. In KCS-SSS patients the normalisation of tear gland function variables most probably reflects a remission of the underlying disease. In view of the overall improvement in KCS-NS patients the term age related KCS should be avoided.
Kruize
A A
AA
Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital Utrecht, Netherlands.
van Bijsterveld
O P
OP
Hené
R J
RJ
de Wilde
P C
PC
Feltkamp
T E
TE
Kater
L
L
Bijlsma
J W
JW
D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007638:Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism*; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009113:Muramidase / Q000032:analysis; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013666:Tears / Q000737:chemistry
D009113:Muramidase; D007781:Lactoferrin