title: Dry Eye Profiles in Patients with a Positive Elevated Surface Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 Point-of-Care Test Versus Negative Patients.
abstract: To compare dry eye (DE) symptoms and signs in subjects who tested positive versus those who tested negative for ocular surface matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) using the InflammaDry point-of-care test (RPS, Sarasota, FL).
  
  
  
  In this cross-sectional study, individuals seen in the Miami Veterans Affairs eye clinic with DE symptoms, as evidenced by DE questionnaire 5 (DEQ5) ≥6, were given standardized questionnaires to assess DE symptoms and ocular and non-ocular pain complaints. Also, a complete evaluation was conducted to measure ocular surface signs of DE. MMP-9 testing was performed using the InflammaDry once in each eye, per the manufacturer's instructions. The main outcome measure was a comparison of DE symptoms and signs in MMP-9 positive versus negative subjects.
  
  
  
  Of 128 subjects, 50 (39%) were positive for MMP-9 for InflammaDry testing in either eye. No statistically significant differences in mental health indices, DE symptoms, or ocular surface signs were seen in subjects based on MMP-9 status.
  
  
  
  In our population, there was no difference in the DE profile by both symptoms and signs between those testing positive versus negative for MMP-9 on the ocular surface. This suggests that clinical exam alone cannot predict patients with clinically significant inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Miami Veterans Administration Medical Center, Miami, FL, USA; Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Nicole L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Lanza
authors.affiliation: Miami Veterans Administration Medical Center, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Allison L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: McClellan
authors.affiliation: Miami Veterans Administration Medical Center, Miami, FL, USA; Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Hatim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Batawi
authors.affiliation: Miami Veterans Administration Medical Center, Miami, FL, USA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Felix
authors.affiliation: Miami Veterans Administration Medical Center, Miami, FL, USA; Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Medicine and Pain Management, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Konstantinos D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Sarantopoulos
authors.affiliation: Miami Veterans Administration Medical Center, Miami, FL, USA; Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Medicine and Pain Management, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA; John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA; John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Roy C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Levitt
authors.affiliation: Miami Veterans Administration Medical Center, Miami, FL, USA; Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA. Electronic address: agalor@med.miami.edu.
authors.forename: Anat
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galor
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes; D006801:Humans; D007638:Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: C579270:MMP9 protein, human; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9
keywords: InflammaDry; dry eye; matrix metalloproteinase-9