title: Rationale for anti-inflammatory therapy in dry eye syndrome.
abstract: Dry eye is a multifactorial condition that results in a dysfunctional lacrimal functional unit. Evidence suggests that inflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. Changes in tear composition including increased cytokines, chemokines, metalloproteinases and the number of T cells in the conjunctiva are found in dry eye patients and in animal models. This inflammation is responsible in part for the irritation symptoms, ocular surface epithelial disease, and altered corneal epithelial barrier function in dry eye. There are several anti-inflammatory therapies for dry eye that target one or more of the inflammatory mediators/pathways that have been identified and are discussed in detail.
authors.affiliation: Ocular Surface Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. cintiadp@bcm.tmc.edu
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: de Paiva
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Pflugfelder
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D013752:Tetracycline