The effect of topical cyclosporine A on clinical findings and cytological grade of the disease in patients with dry eye.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the clinical findings and the cytological grade of the disease before and after 6 months of topical cyclosporine A treatment in patients with dry eye.


METHODS
: This single-center prospective study was performed at the Department of Ophthalmology, Ankara University School of Medicine, between January 2007 and June 2008.


METHODS
Forty-five patients with dry eye (with 5 mm/5 minutes or less Schirmer test) were included in the study. Patients were treated with cyclosporine A 0.005% ophthalmic emulsion (RESTASIS) twice daily in addition to lubricant eyedrops 5 times a day. Schirmer test values, tear breakup time (BUT), and impression cytology (goblet cell density, nucleus to cytoplasmic ratio, and epithelial cell morphology) were evaluated at baseline and after 6 months.


RESULTS
Before and after 6 months of the treatment with topical cyclosporine A, the median Schirmer test scores were found as 3.00 and 4.00 mm, respectively. The median BUT score at baseline was 4.00 seconds, and after treatment, the median score was 5.00 seconds. There were statistically significant differences in the median Schirmer and BUT values between, before, and after 6 months of treatment (P < 0.05). The mean cytological grade according to Nelson grading system was 1.84 at baseline and 1.51 after treatment with topical cyclosporine A for 6 months. Statistically significant improvement in cytological grades after treatment was observed (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment of patients with dry eye for 6 months with topical cyclosporine A resulted in an increase in Schirmer test results, an increase in BUT scores, and an improvement in cytological grade of the disease.
Sahli
Esra
E
Department of Ophthalmology, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. esracansizoglu@gmail.com
Hoşal
Banu Melek
BM
Zilelioğlu
Güler
G
Gülbahçe
Rukiye
R
Ustün
Hüseyin
H
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002452:Cell Count; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D020397:Goblet Cells / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine