Document 2892
 DOCN  M94A2892
 TI    Xerophthalmia in HIV-disease.
 DT    9412
 AU    Libera S; Geier SA; Klauss V; Goebel FD; Medizinische Poliklinik and
       Augenklinik der LMU, Munich, Germany.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):200 (abstract no. PB0229). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94369683
 AB    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.
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/COMPLICATIONS  AIDS-Related
       Complex/COMPLICATIONS  Human  HIV Infections/*COMPLICATIONS  Prevalence
       Prospective Studies  Xerophthalmia/*COMPLICATIONS/DIAGNOSIS/EPIDEMIOLOGY
       MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).