[Demodex-related marginal blepharitis in Japan].
OBJECTIVE
Some marginal blepharitis is related to demodex, but this has not yet been reported in Japan. In this study, patients with severe marginal blepharitis with cylindrical dandruff were studied to examine the number of demodex in their cilia.


METHODS
Ten eyes of 10 patients (7 men and 3 women, mean age: 62.9 +/- 9.0 years) with unilateral marginal blepharitis which had cylindrical dandruff in their cilia were studied. Three cilia which had the most cylindrical dandruff were removed from the eyelids for microscopic examination. After cleaning the eyelid margins for 1 week, the examination was repeated. Scoring of itching and foreign body sensation of the patients was performed both before and after the treatment.


RESULTS
Demodex folliculorum was detected in the cilia of 8 out of 10 eyes (80%), and 22 cilia out of 30 with cylindrical dandruff. The average number of demodex/cilia was 1.6 +/- 0.9. In all cases, the number of demodex/cillium decreased significantly with the improvement in symptoms and blepharitis.


CONCLUSIONS
An Increase in the number of demodex might be the pathogen causing blepharitis with cylindrical dandruff, and cleaning of the eyelid margin is effective as a therapeutic method.
Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. kawakita@sc.itc.keio.ac.jp
Tetsuya
T
Kawakita
Motoko
M
Kawashima
Osama
O
Ibrahim
Dogru
D
Murato
Kazuo
K
Tsubota
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001762:Blepharitis / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000628:therapy; D005140:Eyelashes / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008924:Mite Infestations / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000628:therapy; D008925:Mites / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage
D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D015242:Ofloxacin