The immunoglobulin E levels of paired tear serum samples of 97 patients have been studied. The determination of locally produced immunoglobulin E in tears is a diagnosis test of allergic conjunctivitis without other biological signs.
Electrophoresis of tears, a rapid and easy technique, shows several peaks of migration. Three main peaks correspond to the proteins synthesized by the lacrimal gland: rapid migrant proteins, lactoferrin migrating to the anode, and lysozyme migrating to the cathode. Secretory tissue injuries of the lacrimal gland show a more or less important decrease of one or several peaks. Any inflammatory reaction induces an increase in the serum albumin and immunoglobulin fractions. This exploration can be helpful in the diagnosis of the sicca syndrome or of drug poisoning thereby avoiding lacrimal biopsy.
A preselected population of 96 patients (67 glaucomas, 29 ocular hypertensions) were followed for an average period of 30 months. Timolol eye drops were administered either alone, in dosage strengths of 0.25 or 0.5% or in combination with other antiglaucoma drugs. 9 patients were lost to follow-up after a mean treatment duration of 15.3 months; glaucoma had been stabilized in all of them. 10 patients had unsatisfactory intraocular pressure control and 7 had to undergo trabeculectomy (9 of these 10 patients had campimetric glaucoma at the beginning of the study), whereas 76 patients had satisfactory intraocular pressure control and, in the majority, stabilization of glaucoma had been obtained. In 77% of this preselected population glaucoma was stabilized over a period of 3 years (i.e. close to two thirds of those starting treatment, 70% of which had campimetric glaucoma).
Lactic deshydrogenase isoenzymes in different parts of the ocular tissues and humors were analyzed. An appreciation in crossing of the lactic deshydrogenase concentration was indicated. In the human eye, the largest quantities of lactic deshydrogenase were found in the cornea and in the vitreous and aqueous humors, where isoenzymes 3,4, and 5 are the most numerous. Lactic deshydrogenase was found in small quantities only in the conjunctiva and in the lacrimal gland. In the bovine eye, the proportion of isoenzymes is different. The chemical constitution of human serum isoenzymes seems to differ from that of the tissues and liquids in the bovine eye (their mobility is different). Therefore, the results obtained with bovine eyes cannot be applied to human eyes. The largest quantity of lacrimal lactic deshydrogenase isoenzymes comes from the cornea, any recent corneal lesion causing an increase in isoenzyme 4.
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