muramidase and Conjunctivitis

Topics: Acute Disease; Adolescent; Adult; Clinical Trials as Topic; Conjunctivitis; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Muramidase; Ophthalmic Solutions

To determine whether intolerance to contact lens wear is attributable to clinical or protein characteristics of the tear film.. Thirty-eight subjects participated; 20 were successful contact lens wearers and 18 had discontinued contact lens wear because of discomfort. Baseline tear film (no lens wear) was analyzed with a range of clinical measurements and protein analyses (lactoferrin, sIgA, and lysozyme). Comfort was determined after 6 hours of lens wear, and differences in tear film characteristics between subject groups were determined. In half of the subject group (n = 19), discriminant analysis was used to develop an equation for predicting the likelihood of intolerance to lens wear. Sensitivity and specificity were determined by testing the formula on the remaining subjects. These formulas were also tested on a separate group of subjects enrolled in a contact lens-wearing trial.. Tear volume (meniscus height and phenol red thread test) and tear stability (noninvasive tear break up time [NI-TBUT]) were significantly reduced in intolerant wearers (P < 0.05). A greater number of symptoms were reported by intolerant than by tolerant wearers (P < 0.05). Tolerance was associated with clinical but not protein characteristics of the tear film. Formulas best able to predict contact lens intolerance included NI-TBUT, number of symptoms experienced, and tear film meniscus height. Formulas had high sensitivity, and specificity which ranged from 29% to 57%.. Contact lens intolerance appears to be best predicted by a combination of clinical variables, including tear film stability, tear volume, and symptom reporting.

Topics: Adult; Conjunctivitis; Contact Lenses; Discriminant Analysis; Dry Eye Syndromes; Eye Proteins; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; Keratitis; Lactoferrin; Male; Muramidase; Osmolar Concentration; Patient Satisfaction; Phenolsulfonphthalein; Sensitivity and Specificity; Tears

The lacrimal film contains 6 to 10 g/l of proteins, 99% of which locally synthesized by the lacrimal glands. The study of these proteins allows us to explore the lacrimal function and to reveal an inflammatory process.. The lacrimal proteinic profile included the determination of total proteins and electrophoresis on agarose gel and, if necessary, specific determinations of albumin, lactoferrin, lysozyme and immunoglobulins using a nephelemetric technique. Normal values were established on a hundred of individual tears.. The electrophoretic proteinic profile may present different abnormalities, such as an inflammatory process, a functional alteration of the lacrimal glands or a dysproteinic abnormality of the tears. The specific determination of the principal lacrimal proteins allows us to accurately quantify each of them.. The electrophoresis of the tears on an agarose gel reveals the presence of an inflammatory process or the quantitative or qualitative alteration of the lacrimal function. The immuno-nephelemetric determination of the most important proteins which are involved in theses mechanisms gives an accurate quantitative measurement of proteins and allows biological follow-up of the disease.

Topics: Albumins; Blood-Aqueous Barrier; Conjunctivitis; Dry Eye Syndromes; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; Humans; Immunoglobulin A; Lacrimal Apparatus; Lactoferrin; Muramidase; Proteins; Tears

Topics: Conjunctivitis; Eye Diseases; Humans; Keratitis; Muramidase; Sjogren's Syndrome; Tears

We studied the lysozyme content of tears in 267 subjects (521 eyes), including 241 healthy subjects, 7 patients (14 eyes) with bilateral blepharitis, 8 patients (12 eyes) with conjunctivitis, and 11 patients (16 eyes) with keratitis. The concentration of lysozyme in the tears rises with age between childhood and maturity. The highest values were seen in the age group of 21-40 years, and a decrease of lysozyme concentration occurred with an increase in age from 30-40 years. The mean lysozyme content of tears was 1,768 micrograms/ml in healthy subjects; no significant differences occurred between the sexes. Patients with blepharitis, conjunctivitis, and keratitis had normal mean lysozyme content of tears. The tears of patients with herpes simplex keratitis had low lysozyme values.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Blepharitis; Child; Conjunctivitis; Eye Diseases; Female; Humans; Keratitis; Male; Middle Aged; Muramidase; Tears

The tear lysozyme content in 111 normal subjects and in 159 patients with various conjunctival diseases was determined by a single radial immunodiffusion technique. Tear lysozyme level in normal people was 1.33/mg/ml. (SI conversion: mg/ml = g/l.) The mean tear lysozyme levels in patients with chronic irritative conjunctivitis (0.97 mg/ml) and nutritional deficiency with epithelial xerosis (0.76 mg/ml) were significantly lower than in the normal controls. The mean tear lysozyme levels in tears from patients with vernal conjuctivitis (1.20 mg/ml), phlyctenular conjunctivitis (1.10 mg/ml), and acute bacterial conjunctivitis (1.48 mg/ml) were not significantly different from those in the normal controls. Superimposition of acute bacterial conjunctivitis on trachoma did not alter the low tear lysozyme level that existed before in these patients.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Child; Conjunctival Diseases; Conjunctivitis; Female; Humans; Immunodiffusion; Male; Middle Aged; Muramidase; Sex Factors; Tears

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Child; Child, Preschool; Conjunctivitis; Corneal Ulcer; Humans; Infant; Keratitis, Dendritic; Middle Aged; Muramidase; Secretory Rate; Tears

The levels of total protein in tears from healthy donors, conjunctivitis vernalis patients, and conjunctivitis follicularis patients, were 625, 1370 and 1160 mg% respectively. Serum albumin accounted for 3.3%, 43% and 67% of the total protein of tears from these groups, and the level of proteins probably synthesized by the lacrimal gland, was in tears from conjunctivitis follicularis patients only half the level in normal tears. By crossed immunoelectrophoresis with intermediate gel, 10 antigenic species could be recognized in normal tears, and of these the following were identified: Lysozyme, IgA, lactoferrin and serum albumin. In tears from patients with conjunctivitis vernalis three more immunoprecipitates were observed, of which one was due to IgG. No lysozyme could be demonstrated in tears from a case of conjunctivitis sicca by immunoelectrophoresis. In tears from healthy donors the mean level of IgA was 20 mg%, of IgG 3 mg%, and IgM could not be demonstrated. Rabbit anti-tear immunoglobulin did not precipitate a standard of human IgM in double immunodiffusion. In cases of conjunctivitis vernalis and follicularis the mean levels were increased to 80 and 114 mg% IgG, and 11 and 14 mg% IgM, but IgA was increased only to 32 and 41 mg%. It is assumed that the level of IgA in normal tears is almost entirely due to local synthesis, while serum albumin and other immunoglobulins may have escaped from the circulation by molecular sieving. The increased levels of immunoglobulins in inflammatory diseases is probably due to transudation. However, in blepharoconjunctivitis patients several tear samples with a high IgM and a low or zero level of IgG could be demonstrated. Possible explanations for this phenomenon are discussed.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Child; Child, Preschool; Conjunctivitis; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulin A; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin M; Lactoferrin; Male; Middle Aged; Muramidase; Proteins; Serum Albumin; Tears

The major complications with extended wear lenses are due to hypoxia and lens deposits. Certain patients tend to deposit proteins and lipids on the lens surface with daily wear and at a greater frequency during prolonged wear. A build-up of these deposits can be associated with decreased vision, conjunctival irritation, and giant papillary conjunctivitis. Frequent lens cleaning and the frequent use of concomitant topical artificial tears will hopefully reduce the incidence of lens deposits and their complications. Superficial circumlimbal vascularization occurs in a large percentage of patients who have worn lenses for weeks at a time. Corneal edema, ocular irritation, and decreased vision are also the hallmarks of a decreased oxygen supply to the cornea. A thin-loose-fitting lens will increase the percentage of patients who are able to successfully use extended wear lenses by increasing the amount of oxygen available to the cornea. Cessation or reduction in duration of lens wear will decrease the frequency and severity of this complication. Conjunctival and corneal infections are real risks; lens loss, breakage, deformation, or discoloration also occur during extended wear.

Topics: Calcium; Conjunctivitis; Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic; Cornea; Eye Diseases; Humans; Hypoxia; Keratitis; Lipid Metabolism; Muramidase; Proteins; Refractive Errors; Time Factors

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Blood Bactericidal Activity; Conjunctivitis; Eye Diseases; Female; Humans; Immunity, Innate; Keratitis; Male; Middle Aged; Muramidase; Phagocytosis; Sclera; Staphylococcal Infections; Uveitis

Topics: Animals; Bacterial Infections; Conjunctiva; Conjunctivitis; Guinea Pigs; Moraxella; Muramidase; Tears; Vitamin B 6 Deficiency

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Child; Child, Preschool; Conjunctivitis; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Methods; Middle Aged; Muramidase; Sex Factors; Tears

Topics: Animals; Antibodies; Bentonite; Conjunctivitis; Guinea Pigs; In Vitro Techniques; Muramidase; Phagocytes; Vitamin B 6 Deficiency

Topics: Bacteriological Techniques; Conjunctivitis; Enterobacteriaceae Infections; Humans; Moraxella; Muramidase; Pneumococcal Infections; Proteus Infections; Staphylococcal Infections; Streptococcal Infections

Topics: Conjunctivitis; Corneal Ulcer; Eye Diseases; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Keratoconjunctivitis; Muramidase; Tears

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Child, Preschool; Conjunctivitis; Female; Humans; Keratitis; Male; Middle Aged; Muramidase; Ophthalmic Solutions

Topics: Adult; Aged; Conjunctivitis; Cornea; Eye Diseases; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Muramidase; Ophthalmic Solutions

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Atropine; Conjunctivitis; Humans; Idoxuridine; Iodine; Keratitis; Keratitis, Dendritic; Keratoconjunctivitis; Muramidase; Therapeutics