Libera S, Geier SA, Klauss V, Goebel FD; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12; 10: 200 (abstract no. PB0229).
Medizinische Poliklinik and Augenklinik der LMU, Munich, Germany.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to look for an association of severity of HIV disease with decreased tear production in a controlled setting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 72 patients (144 eyes) and 20 age- and sex-matched controls (40 eyes) were prospectively studies. Tear production was measured applying the Schirmer test (measured in mm after 5 minutes), and patients were staged according to severity of HIV-disease. RESULTS: The relative frequency of eyes with significantly decreased tear production (< 9 mm = mean-value of the normal controls--2xSD) was 23.6% in all 144 eyes. The relative frequency of significantly decreased tear production did not differ (p = 0.52) between eyes of patients with asymptomatic HIV infection (35.7%), LAS or AIDS-related complex (21.4%), and AIDS (24.1%). Furthermore, mean tear production did not differ (p = 0.32) between eyes of patients with asymptomatic HIV infection, LAS or ARC, and AIDS. CONCLUSION: Our data show that xerophthalmia occurs in about 20% to 25% of patients with HIV infection. This increased frequency is not related to the severity of HIV disease. The possibility of an autoimmune-like pathogenesis of abnormalities of tear production in patients with HIV infection should be intensively discussed.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- AIDS-Related Complex
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Case-Control Studies
- Conjunctiva
- Cornea
- Eye
- HIV Infections
- Humans
- Lacrimal Apparatus
- Xerophthalmia
Other ID:
UI: 102208509
From Meeting Abstracts