title: Effect of Systemically Used Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Medication on the Corneal Epithelium and Stroma of Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of systemically used anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) medication on the thickness of corneal epithelium and stroma in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 125 eyes of 69 participants were included in this retrospective study of three groups: healthy participants (Group 1), AS patients receiving anti-TNF-α medication (Group 2), and AS patients receiving a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication (Group 3).
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to anterior segment optical coherence tomography, the mean thickness of the corneal epithelium was significantly thicker in Group 2 than in Group 3 (51.6 ± 3.2 µm versus 50.4 ± 3 µm, p = 0.01), as was that of the stroma (475 ± 33 µm versus 443 ± 29 µm, p = 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anti-TNF-α medication and/or avoidance of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs could improve the thickness of both the corneal epithelium and stroma in AS patients.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Ophthalmology , Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University School of Medicine , Canakkale , Turkey.
authors.forename: Sedat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arikan
authors.affiliation: b Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation , Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University School of Medicine , Canakkale , Turkey.
authors.forename: Ferhat
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gokmen
authors.affiliation: a Department of Ophthalmology , Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University School of Medicine , Canakkale , Turkey.
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ersan
authors.affiliation: b Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation , Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University School of Medicine , Canakkale , Turkey.
authors.forename: Ayla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akbal
authors.affiliation: b Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation , Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University School of Medicine , Canakkale , Turkey.
authors.forename: Hatice
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Resorlu
authors.affiliation: a Department of Ophthalmology , Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University School of Medicine , Canakkale , Turkey.
authors.forename: Baran
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gencer
authors.affiliation: a Department of Ophthalmology , Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University School of Medicine , Canakkale , Turkey.
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ali Tufan
authors.affiliation: a Department of Ophthalmology , Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University School of Medicine , Canakkale , Turkey.
authors.forename: Selcuk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kara
mesh_terms: D000068879:Adalimumab / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D000068800:Etanercept / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000188:drug therapy*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C529000:golimumab; D000069285:Infliximab; D000068879:Adalimumab; D000068800:Etanercept
keywords: Snkylosing spondylitis, AS-OCT, anti–TNF-α medication, NSAIDs, corneal epithelium, corneal stroma