title: Effect of Systemic Infliximab Therapy in Patients with Sjögren's Syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of systemic infliximab therapy on tear function tests and the ocular surface in patients with Sjögren's syndrome secondary to various autoimmune diseases.
  This prospective study included 22 eyes of 22 patients with Sjögren's syndrome who began treatment with systemic infliximab. Tear film break-up time (TBUT), anesthetized Schirmer's 1 test, fluorescein staining test, and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) scores were recorded before treatment and in the 3rd and 6th months of treatment.
  In the 3rd month of infliximab therapy, no significant changes were observed in Schirmer's values, TBUT, fluorescein staining, or OSDI scores (p=0.260, p=0.357, p=0.190 and p=0.07, respectively). In the 6th month of infliximab therapy, no significant changes were observed in TBUT, fluorescein staining, Schirmer's value or OSDI scores (p=0.510, p=0.320, p=0.220 and p=0.344, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infliximab therapy, which is commonly used in systemic autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and ankylosing spondylitis, did not show a positive effect on ocular surface and tear function tests.
authors: Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Antalya, Turkey.
authors: Elif
authors: E
authors: Betül Türkoğlu
authors: Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Antalya, Turkey.
authors: Serpil
authors: S
authors: Tuna
authors: Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Antalya, Turkey.
authors: Sevil
authors: S
authors: Alan
authors: Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Antalya, Turkey.
authors: Mehmet
authors: M
authors: İhsan Arman
authors: Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology, Antalya, Turkey.
authors: Yaşar
authors: Y
authors: Tuna
authors: Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Antalya, Turkey.
authors: Mustafa
authors: M
authors: Ünal
keywords: Dry eye; Sjogren’s syndrome; Tumor necrosis factor; infliximab