THE BELGIAN OPHTHALMIC ASSOCIATIONS
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This abstract is assigned to session BSCRS: Belgian Societies of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
| Title | FRO: Tear film biomarkers as prognostic indicators for recurrent pterygium |
| Purpose | The aim of this project is to establish the use of IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF as biomarkers in the tear film for early detection of recurrent pterygium. |
| Methods | Patients with pterygia showing corneal encroachment and requiring surgical excision will be recruited in this study along with a second population of control subjects. Using a corneal bath, 3 drops of normal saline will be applied and 50µl of the diluted epithelial secretions collected and stored at -80°C. A Cytometric Bead Array of the tears will be performed for IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF. Resected pterygial tissue will be stored for immunohistochemical analysis angainst antibodies for CD43, SCD5 and MEFV (antibodies up-regulated in recurrent pterygium). |
| Results | From the results we can determine the baseline levels of IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF present in normal epithelial secretions and correlate it with potentially higher levels in the eyes of patients with pterygia. By collecting post op epithelial secretions at different time points; namely pre-op, 2 weeks, 3 months and 1 year post op; along with regular ocular surface photographs and grading of any recurrent pterygia we will be able to ascertain the role of these cytokines and growth factors as biomarkers for recurrent pterygia. |
| Conclusion | By establishing higher tear film levels of IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF in eyes with pterygia compared to normal eyes and the return to baseline levels post excision we can begin to ascertain the role of these key players in the pathogenesis of pterygia. But if we can also show high levels of these cytokines/growth factors in subjects that present with recurrence post excision, we will be able to quantitatively as well as qualitatively justify the role of IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF as prognostic indicators of recurrent pterygium |
Author 1
| Last name | ZAKARIA |
| Initials | N |
| Department | Ophthalmology - Cornea |
| City | Antwerp |