Conjunctival impression cytology and tear-film changes in patients with psoriasis.
OBJECTIVE
In this study, we evaluated ocular-surface changes and tear-film functions in patients with plaque-type psoriasis.


METHODS
This study was performed on two groups. Group I included 100 eyes of 50 subjects with chronic plaque-type psoriasis whose diagnoses were confirmed with skin biopsy. Group II included 100 eyes of 50 healthy volunteers who were in the same age and sex distribution. Ocular-surface changes were evaluated on the cell content of the surface conjunctival epithelium by conjunctival impression cytology and tear-film functions by the Schirmer I test and break-up time (BUT).


RESULTS
Of the patients with psoriasis, 50% had a grade 0, 30% had a grade I, and 20% had a grade II conjunctival impression cytology differentiation compared with 95, 3, and 2%, respectively in the control group (p < 0.001). Snake-like appearance of nuclear chromatin in conjunctival epithelial cells was demonstrated in 12% of eyes in group I but in 2% of eyes in group II. The Schirmer's test results showed that average values were 10.1 +/- 5.8 mm in group I and 12.6 +/- 5.5 mm in group II (p > 0.001). The mean break-up time was 7.8 +/- 3.7 s in group I and 12.5 +/- 4.6 s in group II (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
We showed the early conjunctival changes in patients with psoriasis. According to these results, primary etiologic factors may contribute to ocular lesions in psoriasis.
Karabulut
A A
AA
Department of Dermatology, Ankara Hospital, Turkey.
Yalvac
I S
IS
Vahaboglu
H
H
Nurozler
A B
AB
Duman
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000473:pathology*; D003229:Conjunctival Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism*