title: Diadenosine polyphosphates in the tears of aniridia patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To quantify diadenosine polyphosphate levels in tears of congenital aniridia patients to estimate the ocular surface changes associated with congenital aniridia compared to normal individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen patients diagnosed with congenital aniridia and a control group of forty volunteers were studied. Tears were collected to quantify the levels of diadenosine polyphosphates Ap4 A and Ap5 A by high-performance liquid chromatography (H.P.L.C). Break-up time (BUT), corneal staining, McMonnies questionnaire and the Schirmer I test were applied to both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dinucleotides in congenital aniridia patients were higher than in control subjects. For the congenital aniridia group, under 15 years old, the values were 0.77 ± 0.01 μm and 0.17 ± 0.02 μm for Ap4 A and Ap5 A, respectively. The group aged from 15 to 40 years old provided concentrations of 4.37 ± 0.97 μm and 0.46 ± 0.05 μm for Ap4 A and Ap5 A, the group over 40 gave concentrations of 11.17 ± 5.53 μm and 0.68 ± 0.17 μm for Ap4 A and Ap5 A. Dinucleotide concentrations increased with age, being statistically significant different among the three age groups (p < 0.05). Congenital aniridia patients showed a normal tear secretion and no dry eye McMonnies scores, except for the group over 40 years old. BUT values decreased and corneal staining increased with age and correlated with the levels of diadenosine polyphosphates (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The levels of dinucleotides in tears increase in aniridia patients compared with healthy subjects, and they seem to be related with the progression of corneal disorders in aniridia patients, both of which increase with ageing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Optics II (Optometry & Vision), Faculty of Optics and Optometry, University Complutense of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Assumpta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peral
authors.affiliation: Department of Optics II (Optometry & Vision), Faculty of Optics and Optometry, University Complutense of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Gonzalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carracedo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology IV, Faculty of Optics and Optometry, University Complutense of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pintor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D015783:Aniridia / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D015226:Dinucleoside Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015226:Dinucleoside Phosphates; C012275:P(1),P(5)-di(adenosine-5'-)pentaphosphate; C020733:diadenosine tetraphosphate
keywords: congenital aniridia; dinucleotides; keratopathy; tear film disorder