Evaluation of the Significance of Tear Ferning Patterns in beta-Thalassemia Patients

Abstract

Aim This study was designed to evaluate the tear film in beta-thalassemia patients using tear ferning (TF) and phenol red thread (PRT) tests.

Methods Forty beta-thalassemia patients, aged 18 – 38 years (25.7 ± 6.0 years), along with a control group of 40 age-matched subjects with healthy eyes completed the study. All subjects completed the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) first, followed by the TF and PRT tests with a 5-minute gap between the tests.

Results Significant differences (Wilcoxon test, p < 0.05) were observed between the beta-thalassemia and control groups in all scores. Among beta-thalassemia patients, OSDI scores indicated eye dryness in 35 subjects (87.5%). PRT showed dryness in 31 subjects (77.5%) in the right and left eyes, and the TF grades were ≥ 2 for the tears collected from 35 subjects (87.5%). There was a strong correlation (r = 0.851, p = 0.001) between the PRT measurements in the right and left eyes. There was a medium correlation between OSDI and TF scores (r = 0.309, p = 0.026) and between OSDI and age (r = 0.365, p = 0.010). Age had a moderate negative correlation (r = − 0.328, p = 0.019) with the PRT obtained from the right eye.

Conclusion Significant ocular dryness symptom was observed in beta-thalassemia patients, based on the scores collected from TF and PRT tests. Beta-thalassemia patients develop dry eyes, possibly due to several factors, including reduced tear secretion. Therefore, it is important to regularly evaluate both the quality and quantity of tears in patients with beta-thalassemia.

Zusammenfassung

Ziel Diese Studie wurde entwickelt, um den Tränenfilm bei Patienten mit Beta-Thalassämie mithilfe von Tränenfarn-Tests (TF) und Phenolrotfaden-Tests (PRT) zu bewerten.

Methoden 40 Patienten mit Beta-Thalassämie im Alter von 18 bis 38 Jahren (25,7 ± 6,0 Jahre) sowie eine Kontrollgruppe von 40 altersentsprechenden Probanden mit gesunden Augen beendeten die Studie. Alle Probanden absolvierten zuerst den OSDI (Ocular Surface Disease Index), gefolgt von den TF- und PRT-Tests mit einem Abstand von 5 Minuten zwischen den Tests.

Ergebnisse In allen Scores wurden signifikante Unterschiede (Wilcoxon-Test, p < 0,05) zwischen der Beta-Thalassämie und den Kontrollgruppen beobachtet. Bei Patienten mit Beta-Thalassämie zeigten die OSDI-Werte bei 35 Probanden (87,5%) eine Augentrockenheit. PRT zeigte Trockenheit bei 31 Probanden (77,5%) im rechten und linken Auge, und die TF-Grade waren ≥ 2 für die von 35 Probanden (87,5%) gesammelten Tränen. Es gab eine starke Korrelation (r = 0,851; p = 0,001) zwischen den PRT-Messungen im rechten und linken Auge. Es gab eine mittlere Korrelation zwischen OSDI- und TF-Werten (r = 0,309; p = 0,026) und zwischen OSDI und Alter (r = 0,365; p = 0,010). Das Alter hatte eine mittlere negative Korrelation (r = − 0,328; 0,019) mit der vom rechten Auge erhaltenen PRT.

Schlussfolgerung Bei Patienten mit Beta-Thalassämie wurde ein signifikantes Symptom der Augentrockenheit beobachtet, das auf den Ergebnissen von Tränenfarn- und Phenolrotfaden-Tests basiert. Beta-Thalassämie-Patienten entwickeln trockene Augen, möglicherweise aufgrund verschiedener Faktoren, wie z. B. einer verringerten Tränensekretion. Daher ist es wichtig, bei Patienten mit Beta-Thalassämie regelmäßig sowohl die Qualität als auch die Quantität der Tränen zu bewerten.

Key words

dry eye - beta-thalassemia patients - phenol red thread test - dry eye questionnaire - tear film - five-point tear ferning grading scale

Schlüsselwörter

trockenes Auge - Beta-Thalassämie-Patienten - Phenolrotfaden-Test - Fragebogen für trockenes Auge - Tränenfilm

Publication History

Received: 31 October 2020

Accepted: 03 January 2021

Article published online:
19 February 2021

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