Corneal nerve loss and increased Langerhans cells are associated with disease severity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Eye (Lond)
; 37(14): 2950-2955, 2023 10.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36808180
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES:
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a multisystem autoimmune disorder characterized by articular and extra-articular manifestations. Neuropathy is a poorly studied manifestation of RA. The aim of this study was to utilize the rapid non-invasive ophthalmic imaging technique of corneal confocal microscopy to identify whether there is evidence of small nerve fibre injury and immune cell activation in patients with RA. SUBJECTS/METHODS:
Fifty consecutive patients with RA and 35 healthy control participants were enrolled in this single-centre, cross-sectional study conducted at a university hospital. Disease activity was assessed with the 28-Joint Disease Activity Score and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR). Central corneal sensitivity was measured with a Cochet-Bonnet contact corneal esthesiometer. A laser scanning in vivo corneal confocal microscope was used to quantify corneal nerve fibre density (CNFD), nerve branch density (CNBD), nerve fibre length (CNFL), and Langerhans cell (LC) density.RESULTS:
Corneal sensitivity (P = 0.01), CNFD (P = 0.02), CNBD (P < 0.001), and CNFL (P < 0.001) were lower, and mature (P = 0.001) and immature LC densities (P = 0.011) were higher in patients with RA compared to control subjects. CNFD (P = 0.016) and CNFL (P = 0.028) were significantly lower in patients with moderate to high (DAS28-ESR > 3.2) compared to mild (DAS28-ESR ≤ 3.2) disease activity. Furthermore, the DAS28-ESR score correlated with CNFD (r = -0.425; P = 0.002), CNBD (ρ = -0.362; P = 0.010), CNFL (r = -0.464; P = 0.001), total LC density (ρ = 0.362; P = 0.010) and immature LC density (ρ = 0.343; P = 0.015).CONCLUSIONS:
This study demonstrates reduced corneal sensitivity, corneal nerve fibre loss and increased LCs which were associated with the severity of disease activity in patients with RA.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Artrite Reumatoide
/
Células de Langerhans
Tipo de estudo:
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Eye (Lond)
Assunto da revista:
OFTALMOLOGIA
Ano de publicação:
2023
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Turquia