title: Interleukin-6 levels in tears of contact lens wearers.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the presence of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in basal tears of contact lens wearers (n = 18) and nonlens wearers (n = 25). Samples (5 microl) were collected with a microcapillary pipette and evaluated using PAGE electrophoresis and immunoblot analysis. Contact lens-wearing patients had a mean IL-6 level of 43.8 +/- 5.3 pg/5 microl compared with nondetectable IL-6 levels throughout the noncontact lens-wearing population. IL-6 in several patients removed from contact lens wear for 6 days became nondetectable. When these patients were returned to wearing lenses, IL-6 levels increased to their original levels within 24 h. The data presented indicate that an ocular medical device may stimulate IL-6 production.
authors.affiliation: Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA. csch696427@aol.com
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Schultz
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kunert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003261:Contact Lenses / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013666:Tears / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6