Journal d'ophtalmologie clinique et expérimentale
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Ocular Surface Temperature and Tear Film Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Concentration in Sjögren Syndrome Patients

Gonzalo Carracedo, Candela Rodríguez-Pomar, Amaia Martín-Hermoso, Alba Martin-Gil and Jesús Pintor

Purpose: To evaluate the ocular surface temperature (OST) using an infrared thermography camera in Sjögren Syndrome (SS) patients compared with healthy subjects and correlate these results with the dry eye symptomatology, tear volume, stability and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) concentrations.
Methods: Twelve patients of primary SS (46.64 ± 13.34 years), and twenty volunteers (41.38 ± 9.67 years) without dry eye, participated in this study. OSDI questionnaire, Schirmer test, tear break up time (TFBUT), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) concentrations and OST were evaluated.
Results: Central cornea temperature was statistically higher in SS than in control group (p = 0.014), being 34.81 ± 0.37ºC and 34.25 ± 0.65ºC respectively. In the control group, the temperature increased in the periphery compared with central cornea, limbus and conjunctiva (p<0.05). However, no statistical differences were found in SS patients (p>0.05). The SS patients showed a significant lower Schirmer test and TFBUT compared with control group (p<0.005). Also, the OSDI score and MMP-9 concentration were statistically higher in SS patients compared with the control group (p<0.05). No correlation between central cornea temperature and TFBUT, OSDI and Schirmer test was found. However we found a strong positive correlation between central cornea temperature and MMP-9 concentration been 0.628 (p=0.029).
Conclusion: Central cornea temperature is higher in SS compared with healthy subjects. The strong positive correlation between MMP-9 concentration and central cornea temperature suggests that the high temperature in SS could be due to ocular surface inflammation