title: Group IIA phospholipase A(2) concentration of tears in patients with ocular rosacea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the concentration of group IIA phospholipase A(2) (GIIAPLA(2)) in tears of patients with ocular rosacea, and to compare it with GIIAPLA(2) concentration in tears of age-matched healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  The GIIAPLA(2) concentration in tears was measured with a time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay in 21 patients with ocular rosacea (mean age 55.6+/-9.2 years) and in 21 normal subjects (mean age 53.4+/-8.2 years). Conjunctival brush cytology was carried out and eosinophils, neutrophils, lymphocytes, squamous epithelial cells, columnar epithelial cells, metaplastic changes and goblet cells were calculated separately.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The GIIAPLA (2) concentration in tears was statistically significantly lower in patients with ocular rosacea (31.0+/-18.4 microg/ml, p=0.0099) and, more specifically, in patients who had dry eye (25.8+/-15.1 microg/ml, p=0.0034), compared to that in normal controls. There was no correlation between the GIIAPLA (2) content of tears and the conjunctival cells collected by the brush cytology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The tears of patients with dry eye symptoms due to ocular rosacea have decreased GIIAPLA (2) content. The pathogenic importance of this finding is discussed.
authors: Department of Allergology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors: Osmo
authors: O
authors: Kari
authors: Valtteri V
authors: VV
authors: Aho
authors: Sirje
authors: S
authors: Peltonen
authors: Jukka M
authors: JM
authors: Saari
authors: Marjatta
authors: M
authors: Kari
authors: Marko
authors: M
authors: Määttä
authors: Yrjö
authors: Y
authors: Collan
authors: K Matti
authors: KM
authors: Saari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001762:Blepharitis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology; D003231:Conjunctivitis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015200:Fluoroimmunoassay; D054501:Group II Phospholipases A2; D006801:Humans; D007634:Keratitis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010741:Phospholipases A / Q000378:metabolism*; D012393:Rosacea / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology*; D013666:Tears / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D005136:Eye Proteins; C042434:tear proteins; D010741:Phospholipases A; D054501:Group II Phospholipases A2