title: In Vivo and Impression Cytology Study on the Effect of Compatible Solutes Eye Drops on the Ocular Surface Epithelial Cell Quality in Dry Eye Patients.
abstract: The aim of this study is to investigate in vivo and ex vivo ocular surface alterations induced by dry eye disease and modification after osmoprotective therapy. Forty-eight eyes of 24 patients suffering from dry eye have been recruited. All patients received Optive (compatible solutes) eye drops in one randomly selected eye and Hylogel (sodium hyaluronate 0,2%) in the other. Follow-up included a baseline visit and further examination 30-, 60-, and 90-day intervals (which comprises clinical evaluation, in vivo confocal microscopy-IVCM-of the ocular surface, and conjunctival impression cytology). No significant difference in Schirmer I Test, TBUT, and vital staining results was observed during the follow-up period in both groups. IVCM showed in all patients an improvement of ocular surface epithelial morphology and signs of inflammation (oedema and keratocyte activation). However, these modifications were more evident in patients treated with Optive therapy. A significant reduction of the expression of MMP9 and IL6 in Optive group was observed during the follow-up period in comparison to Hylogel treatment. Our results show that in dry eye disease therapy based on osmoprotective eye drops determines a reduction of inflammatory activation of ocular surface, with consequent improvement of the quality of corneal and conjunctival epithelium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Ageing Sciences, Ophthalmology Clinic, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lanzini
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Ageing Science, Biological Eye Center, CeSI, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Curcio
authors.affiliation: Azienda Ospedaliera San Giovanni-Addolorata, 00184 Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Rossella Annamaria
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Colabelli-Gisoldi
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Clinic, Campus Biomedico, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mastropasqua
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Ageing Sciences, Ophthalmology Clinic, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Calienno
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Ageing Sciences, Ophthalmology Clinic, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Agnifili
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Ageing Sciences, Ophthalmology Clinic, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nubile
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Ageing Sciences, Ophthalmology Clinic, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mastropasqua
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions