Abstract
BackgroundStevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) is an abnormal immune-response causing extensive exfoliation of the mucocutaneous tissue including conjunctiva. While several factors are associated with the alteration of conjunctival microbiota, the conjunctiva of SJS patients are found to harbor a different microbiota compared to healthy subjects. We investigated the conjunctival microbiota of Korean SJS patients, and identified factors associated with the conjunctival microbiota and its positive culture.MethodsMedical records were retrospectively reviewed in 30 SJS patients who had undergone conjunctival swab culture sampling. Chronic ocular surface complications score (COCS), tear break-up time (TBUT), tear matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), and results of conjunctival swab culture were assessed.Results Positive culture was seen in 58.1%. Gram positive bacteria was most commonly isolated, among which Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (45.5%) and Corynebacterium species (40.9%) were predominantly observed. Tear MMP9 positivity was observed significantly more in the positive culture group (100%) compared to the negative culture group (75%) (P = 0.040). In patients who had repetitive cultures, positive- persistence group had more patients using topical cyclosporine compared to the negative-transition group (90.0% vs 33.3%, respectively, P = 0.041). No significant difference was found between COCS and conjunctival swab culture result, and the same as in TBUT and conjunctival swab culture result.ConclusionOur study suggest that tear MMP9 positivity may reflect the presence of an abnormal ocular surface microbiota and topical cyclosporine may be related to persistent culture positivity in SJS patients.
Evaluation of ocular surface disease in elderly patients with glaucoma: expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in tears
