An in vivo confocal microscopy study of corneal changes in patients with systemic sclerosis
Abstract To investigate corneal microstructure of systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients using in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM). 33 patients with SSc and 30 age-matched healthy subjects were recruited. All participants underwent comprehensive ophthalmic examination including IVCM (Heidelberg Retina Tom...
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Nature Portfolio
2021-05-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-90594-9 |
| _version_ | 1818433283688497152 |
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| author | Eszter Szalai Gabriella Szucs Szilvia Szamosi Zsuzsa Aszalos Ildiko Afra Adam Kemeny-Beke |
| author_facet | Eszter Szalai Gabriella Szucs Szilvia Szamosi Zsuzsa Aszalos Ildiko Afra Adam Kemeny-Beke |
| author_sort | Eszter Szalai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract To investigate corneal microstructure of systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients using in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM). 33 patients with SSc and 30 age-matched healthy subjects were recruited. All participants underwent comprehensive ophthalmic examination including IVCM (Heidelberg Retina Tomograph III, Heidelberg Engineering GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany) and ocular surface evaluation. Subbasal nerve plexus morphology was investigated using automated software analysis (ACCMetrics V3; University of Manchester, Manchester, UK). Keratocyte cell densities in the anterior stroma were significantly lower in patients with SSc compared to controls (P < 0.0001). In 7 SSc patients no keratocyte nuclei were identified in the anterior stroma and in most patients scattered hyperreflective punctate material were observed in the anterior stroma. Significantly lower subbasal nerve fiber parameters were found in patients with SSc compared to healthy subjects (P < 0.05). There were no significant correlations between the duration of SSc and any of the corneal cell density values. Tear break-up time values (4.82 ± 3.15 s) and Ocular Surface Disease Index scores (33.27 ± 30.11) were abnormal, Schirmer values (6.78 ± 5.82 mm) were borderline in SSc patients. In SSc, corneal morphological changes and accumulation of punctate material in the stroma was detected with confocal microscopy. Severe ocular surface disease was observed in SSc patients with significant impairment in subbasal nerve plexus morphology resembling peripheral neuropathy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T16:18:38Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T16:18:38Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-222dd37c6ba4438a9268730a36cc44c42022-12-21T22:54:51ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222021-05-011111710.1038/s41598-021-90594-9An in vivo confocal microscopy study of corneal changes in patients with systemic sclerosisEszter Szalai0Gabriella Szucs1Szilvia Szamosi2Zsuzsa Aszalos3Ildiko Afra4Adam Kemeny-Beke5Department of Ophthalmology, University of PecsDepartment of Rheumatology, Institute of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of DebrecenDepartment of Rheumatology, Institute of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of DebrecenDepartment of Immunology, Institute of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of DebrecenDepartment of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of DebrecenDepartment of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of DebrecenAbstract To investigate corneal microstructure of systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients using in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM). 33 patients with SSc and 30 age-matched healthy subjects were recruited. All participants underwent comprehensive ophthalmic examination including IVCM (Heidelberg Retina Tomograph III, Heidelberg Engineering GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany) and ocular surface evaluation. Subbasal nerve plexus morphology was investigated using automated software analysis (ACCMetrics V3; University of Manchester, Manchester, UK). Keratocyte cell densities in the anterior stroma were significantly lower in patients with SSc compared to controls (P < 0.0001). In 7 SSc patients no keratocyte nuclei were identified in the anterior stroma and in most patients scattered hyperreflective punctate material were observed in the anterior stroma. Significantly lower subbasal nerve fiber parameters were found in patients with SSc compared to healthy subjects (P < 0.05). There were no significant correlations between the duration of SSc and any of the corneal cell density values. Tear break-up time values (4.82 ± 3.15 s) and Ocular Surface Disease Index scores (33.27 ± 30.11) were abnormal, Schirmer values (6.78 ± 5.82 mm) were borderline in SSc patients. In SSc, corneal morphological changes and accumulation of punctate material in the stroma was detected with confocal microscopy. Severe ocular surface disease was observed in SSc patients with significant impairment in subbasal nerve plexus morphology resembling peripheral neuropathy.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-90594-9 |
| spellingShingle | Eszter Szalai Gabriella Szucs Szilvia Szamosi Zsuzsa Aszalos Ildiko Afra Adam Kemeny-Beke An in vivo confocal microscopy study of corneal changes in patients with systemic sclerosis Scientific Reports |
| title | An in vivo confocal microscopy study of corneal changes in patients with systemic sclerosis |
| title_full | An in vivo confocal microscopy study of corneal changes in patients with systemic sclerosis |
| title_fullStr | An in vivo confocal microscopy study of corneal changes in patients with systemic sclerosis |
| title_full_unstemmed | An in vivo confocal microscopy study of corneal changes in patients with systemic sclerosis |
| title_short | An in vivo confocal microscopy study of corneal changes in patients with systemic sclerosis |
| title_sort | in vivo confocal microscopy study of corneal changes in patients with systemic sclerosis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-90594-9 |
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