Alterations in Conjunctival Cytology and Tear Film Dysfunction in Patients with ??-Thalassemia

Abstract

Ocular surface disorder of these patients was characterized by goblet cell loss and conjunctival squamous metaplasia. Our findings were correlated positively with the variable age. Epithelial damage by toxic reaction and disorder of tear quality and quantity are implicated as important factors in the pathogenesis of the ocular surface disease in beta-tha patients.

Comparison of Morphology of Bulbar Conjunctival Cells Assessed by Impression Cytology versus Scrape and Smear Methods

“…5,6 The material collected is usually smeared onto a glass slide, fixed, and stained. [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] A similar technique involves rubbing of the conjunctival surface with a specially designed bush. [18][19][20][21][22][23] Whether by scrape or brush methods, the relative numbers of epithelial versus inflammatory cells will depend on the overall health of the ocular surface.…”

“…as normal or abnormal), and some information of the types of cells collected, have generally been provided. [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] Another approach to sampling conjunctiva for cytological analysis is conjunctival impression cytology (CIC). Cells obtained by CIC can then be fixed and stained, and have been widely used as a source of conjunctival cells, with many images and cell descriptions being provided.…”

“…[24][25][26][27][28][29] This is in overall contrast to assessments made of cells obtained by scrape or brushing methods, although some investigators have reported making similar grading approaches. 8,10,15,16 Others have assessed the nucelo-cytoplasmic characteristics of scraped cells to categorize them as being from more superficial or deeper lying basal layers of the conjunctival epithelium. 9,19,21 Assumptions appear to have been made that the epithelial cell material processed by different methods is comparable in terms of cell morphology.…”

Ocular involvement in beta thalassemia major: a prospective study in an Indian cohort

“…3,5 Retina was the most commonly affected part, ranging from 78.6% to 16.6%. 7,8 In our study 32% of the children had retinal changes like, degeneration of retinal pigmentary epithelium, retinal venous engorgement, vessel tortuosity and angioid streaks with decreased visual acuity. This has been observed in other studies also.…”

Erythrocytes anion transport and oxidative change in β‐thalassaemias

“…This can be confirmed by lower GSH concentration found in thalassaemic RBCs (Table 3). Oxidative stress, in fact, is known to cross‐link integral membrane proteins as dimers and tetramers of band 3 (Salhany et al, 1990; Turrini et al, 1994; Giger et al, 1995; Adragna and Lauf, 1997; Datta et al, 2006), and to lead to a decrease in and oxidation of membrane thiols (Shinar et al, 1987; Olivieri et al, 1994).…”