The use of impression cytology in the follow-up of severe ocular burns.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate by impression cytology (IC) the expression of the MHC class II inflammatory marker HLA-DR by the conjunctival epithelium, the cytological modifications of the conjunctival surface according to the Nelson's classification, and the eventual correlation between the two after severe ocular burns.


METHODS
A total of 24 patients (24 eyes) who presented with severe ocular burns underwent IC. We compared them with 18 healthy eyes. HLA-DR expression was studied by flow cytometry as well as the conjunctival histology evaluated with the Nelson's classification from 2-24 months after the onset of burns.


RESULTS
There was a significant upregulation of the expression of HLA-DR in eyes with burns compared to the healthy population at 2 months (p<0.001), 6 months (p<0.001), 12 months (p = 0.019), 18 months (p = 0.0171) and 24 months (p = 0.01766). A significant difference was found between the Nelson grade in the pathological population and those of the healthy population at 2 months (p = 0.0157). HLA-DR upregulation was significantly correlated with the Nelson's grades between 2 months (r = 0.69, p<0.0001) and 6 months (r = 0.61, p = 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
The IC technique can act as a useful tool for following-up ocular surface inflammation after severe ocular burns.
Gicquel
Jean-Jacques
JJ
Department of Ophthalmology, Poitiers University Hospital, Poitiers, France.
Navarre
Renaud
R
Langman
Maria Elena
ME
Coulon
Alix
A
Balayre
Stephanie
S
Milin
Serge
S
Mercie
Martial
M
Rossignol
Alexis
A
Barra
Anne
A
Levillain
Pierre-Marie
PM
Gombert
Jean-Marc
JM
Dighiero
Paul
P
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000473:pathology; D005126:Eye Burns / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices
D015415:Biomarkers; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens