Data di Pubblicazione:
2010
Citazione:
Corneal involvement in Graves' orbitopathy : an in vivo confocal study / E. Villani, F. Viola, R. Sala, M. Salvi, C. Mapelli, N. Currò, G. Vannucchi, P.L.M. Beck Peccoz, R. Ratiglia. - In: INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE. - ISSN 0146-0404. - 51:9(2010), pp. 4574-4578.
Abstract:
PURPOSE: To study the clinical involvement of the ocular surface and the in vivo
morphology of corneal cells and nerves, in patients affected by active and
inactive Graves' orbitopathy (GO).
METHODS: The study included 26 consecutive GO patients and 20 age- and
sex-matched healthy control subjects. GO was diagnosed on the basis of the
criteria of the European Group on Graves' Orbitopathy, and disease activity was
evaluated by the Clinical Activity Score (CAS). Each participant underwent a full
eye examination, including an evaluation of symptoms (Ocular Surface Disease
Index score), tear break-up time, fluorescein and lissamine green staining,
corneal apex sensitivity, and Schirmer's test. The corneal apex was examined by
means of confocal microscopy to investigate the number and morphology of
epithelial and stromal corneal cells and subbasal nerves.
RESULTS: Eleven (43%) of the 26 patients had active GO. One-way ANOVA with the
least-significant difference (LSD) post hoc test revealed statistically
significant differences between patients and controls in all the evaluated
parameters, except corneal sensitivity and nerve reflectivity. Among the GO
patients, the only significant difference observed in active compared with
inactive disease was in the number of hyperreflective (activated) keratocytes
(P<0.001, LSD). Corneal sensitivity correlated inversely with proptosis (P<0.001,
Spearman's test).
CONCLUSIONS: GO patients show clinical and confocal corneal alterations and signs
and symptoms partially related to dry eye disease. The ocular surface
inflammation in GO seems to be due to both the dry eye and the autoimmune
orbitopathy.
Tipologia IRIS:
01 - Articolo su periodico
Keywords:
Graves' orbitopathy ; confocal microscopy ; dry eye ; cornea
Elenco autori:
E. Villani, F. Viola, R. Sala, M. Salvi, C. Mapelli, N. Currò, G. Vannucchi, P.L.M. Beck Peccoz, R. Ratiglia
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