The ocular ecosystem in the discoid lupus erythematosus

Chisari, Cg; Stagni, E; Greco, C; Chisari, Em; Rampello, L; Rampello, L; Chisari, G

Introduction: The tear film consists of a set of heterogeneous substances (lipids, proteins, mucin and water) combined in orderto form a highly organic tropism structure specialized in the defense of the ocular surface. Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is achronic photosensitive dermatosis characterized by scarring and atrophy. Several researchers have observed that DLE occurs infrequentlywith more severe systemic organ involvement.Material and methods: We studied 40 patients affected by DLE (28 F-12 M mean age 51.5± 11.1) with signs of distress and/ordry eyes (burning, foreign body sensation, dryness and itching). Patients were treated with ophthalmic solution with liposome, vitaminA, vitamin E and amino acids for 28 days. Subjective symptoms and objective signs were seen in the first visit and 5 days after the endof therapy.Results: We considered the results of different tests, such as Schirmer I, Schirmer II, breakage of the film tears (BUT) andconjunctiva swab for the detection of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. For each tests we evaluated mean and standard deviation. Weconfronted the data obtained before, and after treatment with a tear substitute next-generation ophthalmic solution obtaining significantlystatistical results in each confront. The total number of bacteria isolations occurred before and after treatment showed a reductionof both aerobic (from 33 to 25) and anaerobic strains (from 21 to 12).Conclusion: These results show that ophthalmic solution has a good regulatory activity and its clinical efficacy is confirmed byan activity aimed to normalize clinical parameters of tears.

Introduction: The tear film consists of a set of heterogeneous substances (lipids, proteins, mucin and water) combined in order to form a highly organic tropism structure specialized in the defense of the ocular surface. Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is a chronic photosensitive dermatosis characterized by scarring and atrophy. Several researchers have observed that DLE occurs infrequently with more severe systemic organ involvement. Material and methods: We studied 40 patients affected by DLE (28 F-12 M mean age 51.5± 11.1) with signs of distress and/or dry eyes (burning, foreign body sensation, dryness and itching). Patients were treated with ophthalmic solution with liposome, vitamin A, vitamin E and amino acids for 28 days. Subjective symptoms and objective signs were seen in the first visit and 5 days after the end of therapy. Results: We considered the results of different tests, such as Schirmer I, Schirmer II, breakage of the film tears (BUT) and conjunctiva swab for the detection of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. For each tests we evaluated mean and standard deviation. We confronted the data obtained before, and after treatment with a tear substitute next-generation ophthalmic solution obtaining significantly statistical results in each confront. The total number of bacteria isolations occurred before and after treatment showed a reduction of both aerobic (from 33 to 25) and anaerobic strains (from 21 to 12). Conclusion: These results show that ophthalmic solution has a good regulatory activity and its clinical efficacy is confirmed by an activity aimed to normalize clinical parameters of tears.