Diabetes mellitus suppresses hemodialysis-induced increases in tear fluid secretion.
BACKGROUND
Hemodialysis is essential for the survival of patients suffering from chronic renal failure. However, in diabetics the incidence of dry eye disease is higher than in non-diabetic individuals. Accordingly, we evaluated if this difference is attributable to different effects of hemodialysis on basal tear fluid secretion.


METHODS
A modified Schirmer's eye test determined if hemodialysis improved basal tear secretion rates in 36 diabetic and non-diabetic patients undergoing hemodialysis.


RESULTS
Basal tear secretion was invariant in diabetic patients whereas in non-diabetic individuals this process increased.


CONCLUSIONS
In non-diabetic patients, autonomic neuropathy appears to be less severe and somewhat reversible since only in these individuals hemodialysis improved basal tear fluid secretion. This difference may be a factor contributing to the lower incidence of dry eye disease in non-diabetic patients.
Department of Ophthalmology, Kihoku Bun-in Hospital, Wakayama Medical University School of Medicine, 219 Myouji, Katsuragicho, Wakayama 649-7113, Itogun, Japan. motok@wakayama-med.ac.jp.
Motoko
M
Nakata
Yuka
Y
Okada
Hirotsugu
H
Kobata
Takashi
T
Shigematsu
Peter S
PS
Reinach
Katsuo
K
Tomoyose
Shizuya
S
Saika
D000328:Adult; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012636:Secretory Rate; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism*; D014511:Uremia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy