Tear Function Alterations and Conjunctival Impression Cytology Findings in Patients With Gout

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the tear functions and conjunctival impression cytology (CIC) findings of patients with gout and compare them with healthy controls. Methods: Thirty-four patients with gout (group 1) and 32 age-matched and gender-matched healthy individuals (group 2) were included in this crosssectional study. Schirmer 1 test, tear breakup time (TBUT), Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score, and CIC grade were evaluated and compared between the groups. Results: There was no significant difference between the groups in gender and age (P¼0.923 and P¼0.078, respectively). The mean of Schirmer 1 test result was significantly lower in group 1 (9.7466.03 mm) than that in group 2 (17.1669.33 mm) (P,0.001). The TBUT was also significantly lower in group 1 (7.0062.09 seconds) than that in group 2 (12.7565.25 seconds) (P,0.001). The OSDI score (20.04612.92) was significantly higher in group 1 than that in group 2 (6.19610.07) (P,0.001). Although 10 patients (29.4%) in group 1 had the CIC grade of 2 to 3, none of the controls had CIC grade 2 to 3. The mean CIC grade in group 1 (1.1560.89) was significantly higher than that in group 2 (0.4760.51) (P,0.001). Conclusions:The results of this study suggest that ocular surface alterations assessed by CIC and tear function abnormalities are more common in patients with gout.

Correlation between gout and dry eye disease

“…In a cross-sectional study published in 2021 by Selman Belviranli and colleagues that included 34 gout patients and 32 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals, patients with gout were found to be at greater risk for DED with ocular surface changes and tear film rupture abnormalities more commonly than non-gout patients [ 18 ]. Although the study had a relatively small sample size and a cross-sectional study design, it used the more reliable OSDI questionnaire for detecting DED and assessing its severity to assess the subjective symptoms associated with DED, and an objective test to assess the Schirmer 1 test, tear break-up time (TBUT), ocular surface disease index (OSDI) score, and CIC classification comparing the two groups.…”

Impact of unilateral trigeminal neuralgia on bilateral ocular surface alterations

“…Previous studies from our research group emphasized the use and importance of CIC in determining ocular surface changes in diseases such as multiple sclerosis, migraine, gout, alopecia areata, ankylosing spondylitis, and ulcerative colitis. [17][18][19][20][21] As corneal nerves mainly originate from the trigeminal nerve, neurosensory abnormalities are important factors in ocular surface alterations and DE etiopathogenesis. For this reason, we hypothesized that TN may lead to alterations of the tear film and ocular surface, and we evaluated this using the Schirmer 1 test, TBUT, OSDI score, and CIC grading in patients with TN in comparison with a healthy control group.…”

“…Cells obtained via CIC can be subjected to morphological or morphometric analysis, whereby the morphology and the cytoplasmic and nuclear characteristics of epithelial cells are examined and conjunctival goblet cell density are measured. Previous studies from our research group emphasized the use and importance of CIC in determining ocular surface changes in diseases such as multiple sclerosis, migraine, gout, alopecia areata, ankylosing spondylitis, and ulcerative colitis 17–21 …”