Tears in Sjögren’s syndrome and their relationship with symptoms: 2022 research

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This is an explanation of a 2022 research report into new findings into the tears of people with Sjogren's syndrome and their connection with symptoms. 

Tears in Sjögren’s syndrome and their relationship with symptoms: 2022 research


Purpose of the study

To evaluate the tears of patients with Primary Sjögren’s syndrome (PSS) and find their connection to ocular symptoms, such as discomfort, and objective ocular tests.

Methods used

21 patients with PSS and 21 healthy control subjects, without a dry eye, took part in the study. An ophthalmologist, expert in dry eye, examined the patients and assessed tear film breakup time, Schirmer test, tear meniscus height, Van Bijsterveld staining score and SICCA Ocular Staining Score. 

ESSPRI and ocular dryness visual analog scale (VAS) and the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), a 12-item scale assessing symptoms associated with dry eye disease and their impact on vision (ocular symptoms/discomfort) were also assessed. 

ESSPRI is a patient-reported index designed to assess the severity of patients' symptoms in primary SS. 

 

Tear samples collected with sterile tear flow strips were frozen at -86 °C until testing. After thawing, tears were extracted from the strips.  CCL2, CXCL8, and CXCL10 were tested by luminometry. 

Luminometry is the process of measuring light. Luminometers are the instruments that do the measuring.

CCL2, CXCL8, and CXCL10 are Chemokines, which are a subfamily of the cytokines. They act as chemoattractants for a wide variety of cells, including immune cells. they are small proteins that are defined as ‘inflammatory' chemokines. (small proteins secreted by cells that influence the immune system.)

Results

CXCL8 levels were similar in patients and controls. 

PSS patients had lower levels of CXCL10 and CCL2 than controls. 

Patients with worse ocular sicca symptoms/discomfort had the lowest CXCL10 levels. CCL2 correlated with tear meniscus height and with OSS.

The tear meniscus height can be used to estimate tear volume. A tear meniscus height less than 0.25 mm is suggestive of dry eye. 

Conclusions

Researchers found lower levels of CXCL10 and CCL2 in the tears of patients with PSS. CXCL10 levels were associated with worse eye symptoms. CCL2 levels were associated with positive ocular target tests.



STUDY: Chemokine tear levels in primary Sjögren’s syndrome and their relationship with symptoms. Reported in International Opthalmology 2022.

Tears in Sjögren’s syndrome and their relationship with symptoms: 2022 research


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