Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “CONJUNCTIVA”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Histopathological and ultrastructural examination of the rat conjunctiva after exposure to tobacco smoke.

Exposure to tobacco smoke can cause irritation of the conjunctiva. We conducted this study to identify the effect of tobacco on rat conjunctiva. Animals were divided into experimental and control groups and we exposed the experimental group to tobacco smoke. Control group rats inhaled only room air. Spectrophotometric analysis of the smoke-air mixture revealed that many toxic substances were present in this compound. We found very high levels of plasma thiocyanate after exposure to smoke in experimental group animals but no increase in the control group. So, this data indicates that these animals inhaled smoke effectively in our method. After 3 months conjunctivas were examined by light and electron microscopy. In the experimental group, conjunctivas were thinned, atrophied and microvillous projections and desmosomal connections were absent in comparison with the control conjunctivas. This pathologic change is very similar to conjunctival response to chronic irritants of any type.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Specialized protective role of mucosal glutathione in pigmented rabbit conjunctiva.

PURPOSE: To investigate mechanisms of H(2)O(2)-induced reduction in rates of active ion transport (I(sc)) across the pigmented rabbit conjunctival tissue and the protective role afforded by mucosal glutathione (GSH). METHODS: Changes in I(sc) and specific binding properties of ouabain were evaluated in a modified Ussing chamber setup, using conjunctival tissues freshly excised from pigmented rabbits. Effective concentrations of H(2)O(2) at which 50% of I(sc) was inhibited (IC(50)) were determined for the mucosal and serosal instillation of the agent. The rate of exogenous H(2)O(2) consumption in the mucosal and serosal bathing fluids was estimated. Mucosal 8-Br cAMP at 3 mM, serosal bumetanide at 0.5 mM, and both mucosal and serosal bathing of the conjunctiva with Na(+)-free bicarbonated Ringer's solution (BRS) were used to estimate contributions of conjunctival ion transport mechanisms in I(sc) changes elicited by mucosal H(2)O(2) at IC(50). Specific binding of (3)H-ouabain to the serosal side of the conjunctiva was estimated in the presence of mucosal or serosal H(2)O(2) to assess the role of functional Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase pumps in H(2)O(2) injury. The effect of mucosally instilled GSH and other reductive and nonreductive agents on possible restoration of oxidant-induced decrease in conjunctival I(sc) was also determined. RESULTS: Mucosal and serosal H(2)O(2) decreased conjunctival I(sc) gradually in a dose-dependent manner. The mucosal IC(50) of H(2)O(2)was 1.49 +/- 0.20 mM, whereas the serosal IC(50) was estimated at 10.6 +/- 2.0 micro M. The rate of H(2)O(2) consumption from mucosal fluid was six times faster than that from serosal fluid. Conjunctival tissues pretreated with mucosal H(2)O(2) at IC(50) retained approximately 50% of their maximum 8-Br cAMP-dependent increases in I(sc). Serosal bumetanide did not further reduce the I(sc) beyond the initial 70% decrease caused by mucosal H(2)O(2). When conjunctiva was bathed with Na(+)-free BRS on both the mucosal and serosal sides, before or after addition of mucosal H(2)O(2), the combined effects were additive, decreasing I(sc) by up to 95% to 99%. Mucosal, but not serosal, GSH or reduced L-glutathione mono-ethyl ester (GSH-MEE) superfusion of conjunctival tissues pre-exposed to mucosal H(2)O(2) at IC(50) recovered to 60% to 80% of the initial pre-H(2)O(2) I(sc) after approximately 100 minutes. The specific binding of (3)H-ouabain to the serosal side of the tissue was inhibited by 85% in the presence of mucosal or serosal treatment with H(2)O(2) at their respective IC(50) values. Pretreatment for 60 minutes with either 5 mM GSH, 2 mM GSH-MEE, or 0.1 mM ebselen, when instilled into the mucosal fluid, resulted in 30%, 45%, or 55% reductions, respectively, in ouabain binding after exposure to mucosal H(2)O(2) at IC(50). Furthermore, mucosal posttreatment with 10 mM GSH or 5 mM GSH-MEE of conjunctival tissues pre-exposed to mucosal H(2)O(2) resulted in a 30% recovery of the ouabain-binding level above that observed in tissues exposed to 1.5 mM H(2)O(2) alone on the mucosal side. By contrast, the decrease in conjunctival I(sc) or in the ouabain-binding level elicited by serosal H(2)O(2) at IC(50) was irreversible. CONCLUSIONS: A higher mucosal IC(50) of [H(2)O(2)] on conjunctival I(sc) corresponds to the faster consumption of exogenous H(2)O(2) from mucosal bathing fluid. In addition, actively secreted GSH by conjunctival epithelial cells may help reduce the injury by mucosally applied H(2)O(2). Injury by H(2)O(2) may directly affect vital membrane components (e.g., Na(+),K(+)-ATPase) involved in active ion transport across conjunctiva. Mucosal protection by GSH (or its analogues) of active conjunctival ion transport may be useful in maintaining the physiological functions of conjunctiva under oxidative stress.

8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate↗
PubMed2000

Detection of human papillomavirus in epithelial lesions of the conjunctiva.

CONTEXT: Many factors like exposure to UV radiation, climatic conditions, genetic predisposition, immunological state and, more recently, the presence of HPV have been implicated in the genesis of some lesions of the conjunctiva, especially the carcinoma. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the presence of HPV DNA in acquired lesions of the conjunctiva and in normal mucosa. TYPE OF STUDY: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: A public university referral center (the Ophthalmology Service of the A.C. Camargo Hospital - A. Prudente Foundation, São Paulo). PARTICIPANTS: Thirty patients with acquired lesions of the conjunctiva and 60 matched controls (by age and sex) were evaluated in this study, from June 1993 to March 1995. PROCEDURES: The detection of HPV DNA in the normal conjunctiva and in acquired lesions was done by the PCR technique and dot blot hybridization. The material was collected by scraping the normal mucosa and the surface of the lesions. A fragment of fresh frozen tissue and paraffin embedded specimens of each lesion were also included. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: The association between the HPV infection and the presence or absence of conjunctival lesions. RESULTS: Sequences of HPV DNA were detected in 4 of the 31 lesions evaluated (12.9%) and in the healthy mucosa of one individual of the control group (1.6%). HPV type 16 was detected in 2 carcinomas and in the normal mucosa of one individual of the control group. HPV type 11 was demonstrated in 2 papillomas of one patient with lesions in both eyes. CONCLUSIONS: The low frequency of HPV DNA found in the lesions of this sample and the detection of the viral genome in the normal mucosa indicate that there is a weak possibility of association between HPV infection and the carcinoma of the conjunctiva.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

IGF-I and EGF receptors in the pigmented rabbit bulbar conjunctiva.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether receptors for insulin-like growth factors I and II (IGF-I and IGF-II), insulin, epidermal growth factor (EGF), and transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha) are present on the apical surface of the pigmented rabbit bulbar conjunctiva. Binding of 125I-labelled ligands to the apical surface of the pigmented rabbit bulbar conjunctiva was conducted at 4 degrees C in the absence and presence of excess unlabeled ligands. There was no evidence for the existence of IGF-II, insulin or TGF alpha receptors in the isolated pigmented bulbar conjunctiva. Only IGF-I and EGF receptors appeared to be present. The apparent dissociation constant (Kd) of IGF-I receptors was 206 +/- 13 pM and that for EGF was 51 +/- 5 pM. The number of receptors per 95 mm2 of bulbar conjunctiva was (6.0 +/- 0.2)X10(9) for IGF-I and (2.4 +/- 0.1)X10(9) for EGF. There was no crossover binding of either IGF-I or EGF to one another's receptors. The IC50 value for competitive displacement of bound 125I-IGF-I was: 44 +/- 2 nM by IGF-I, 156 +/- 13 nM by IGF-II and 812 +/- 78 nM by insulin. The IC50 value for displacement of bound 125I-EGF was 0.37 +/- 0.03 nM by EGF and 0.42 +/- 0.04 nM by TGF alpha. In conclusion, only IGF-I and EGF receptors appear to be present on the apical surface of the pigmented rabbit bulbar conjunctiva. The IGF-I receptor is also capable of binding IGF-II and insulin, whereas the EGF receptor is also capable of binding TGF alpha.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Immune responses to Mycoplasma conjunctivae in alpine ibex, alpine chamois, and domestic sheep in Switzerland.

The humoral immune response of three alpine chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra rupicapra), two alpine ibex (Capra ibex ibex) and three domestic sheep naturally affected with infectious keratoconjunctivitis (IKC), and four ibex and two sheep experimentally infected with Mycoplasma conjunctivae was analysed. In addition, the local immune response to M. conjunctivae was analysed using conjunctival washes from chamois and sheep. Immunoblot analysis of sera using whole cell antigens of M. conjunctivae revealed the major immunogenic proteins which had molecular masses of 175, 83, 68, 60, 50, 42, 36, and 33 kDa. Major antigens were found at 83, 68, 60, and 42 kDa in both sera and conjunctival washes from naturally infected animals of all three Caprinae species. In experimentally infected animals, antibodies to the 68 and 60 kDa antigens were dominant. Naturally infected animals showed much stronger immune reactions than those experimentally infected, and specific antibodies appeared 2 to 4 wk after experimental infection. To evaluate possible cross-reactions, whole cell antigen of M. conjunctivae was analysed by immunoblot against hyperimmune sera of closely related Mycoplasma spp. Antibodies to the 175, 73, 68, 60, and 33 kDa antigens appeared to be specific to M. conjunctivae. Cross-reactions mainly with 83, 50, and 42 kDa antigens were detected, in particular with M. ovipneumoniae and M. bovoculi hyperimmune sera, but also with antisera against M. capricolum capricolum and M. putrefaciens.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Assessing severe maternal anemia and its consequences: the value of a simple examination of the coloration of palpebral conjunctiva].

The aims of this study were: (1) to investigate the relationship between pre-delivery hemoglobin (Hb) concentration and the outcome of the pregnancy for the mother and child and (2) to assess the extent to which the pallor of the conjunctiva indicates severe anemia in pregnancy (Hb < 7 g/dl). We carried out a prospective study in 1995, in the maternity department of the National Sourô Sanou Hospital (Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso). Women arriving to give birth at the maternity unit gave verbal consent and underwent a physical examination including the assessment of conjunctiva coloration. Finger-prick blood samples were taken from all the women selected and Hb was determined with a portable hemoglobin meter (HemoCue AB, Sweden). For each woman, information about age, obstetric history, the condition of mother and child at admission and delivery and any post-delivery complications in the first 48 hours was collected before discharge from the maternity unit, 3 to 5 days after the delivery. Women with multiple pregnancies were excluded from the study and 247 women were included overall. Endometriosis was observed in only three cases. Three women died, two due to septic shock. The third woman died from hypovolemic shock. The Hb concentrations of these women were 8 g/dl, 10.2 g/dl and 2.6 g/dl respectively. The mean Hb concentration for our population was 10.1 g/dl (SD = 2.08), with 165 women (67%) having less than 11 g Hb/dl. Forty-one women (17%) had less than 9 g Hb/dl and 16 (6%) had less than 7 g Hb/dl. Severe maternal anemia and pallor of the conjunctiva were significantly associated with pre-term delivery and perinatal death, but not with low birth weight. The sensitivity of the pallor of the conjunctiva for detection of severe maternal anemia was 87%, and its specificity was 88%. We found no evidence that maternal Hb levels of 9 to 10.9 g/dl were associated with a high risk of poor pregnancy outcome for either the mother or the child, although women with such levels of Hb are classed as anemic by the World Health Organization criteria. These results show that poor pregnancy outcome is associated with severe maternal anemia. Examination of the coloration of the conjunctiva is a suitable and affordable screening method for the detection of severe anemia. Mothers with severe anemia present with signs and symptoms of anemia and could therefore be given iron treatment to improve their health. This demonstrates the importance of nutritional intervention during pregnancy.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Conjunctiva-associated lymphoid tissue in the human eye.

PURPOSE: Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) represents a part of the immune system located at mucosal surfaces. Its presence in the human eye is the point in question in the current study. Its occurrence, components, topography, and probable functional significance in the human conjunctiva and lacrimal drainage system were investigated. METHODS: Fifty-three complete conjunctival sacs were obtained from cadaveric eyes, prepared as flat wholemounts, stained, optically cleared, observed in total thickness, and sectioned for light microscopic histology, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy. Eight lacrimal sacs and adhering canaliculi were prepared accordingly. RESULTS: Lymphoid tissue was mainly observed in the palpebral conjunctiva, more pronounced in the upper than in the lower lid. It occurred in different forms: 1) In all specimens, diffuse lymphoid tissue of lymphocytes and plasma cells, most of which were IgA positive, formed a thin layer in the lamina propria. The overlying epithelium produced secretory component. 2) In approximately three fifths of the conjunctival sacs, organized follicular accumulations were embedded in this layer. They had a lenticular shape, were composed of B lymphocytes, and were apically covered by lymphoepithelium. 3) Both types could be associated with the conjunctival crypts. Lymphoid tissue with similar characteristics, including secondary follicles, was also observed inside the lacrimal drainage system. High endothelial venules were present in all types of lymphoid tissue. CONCLUSIONS: Human conjunctiva and lacrimal drainage system show an associated lymphoid tissue (suggesting the term conjunctiva-associated lymphoid tissue [CALT]) that contains all components necessary for a complete immune response. Expression of immunoglobulins and secretory component indicates that the conjunctiva belongs to the secretory immune system.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

[Effect of fluoxetine on histamine content in the rat conjunctiva].

PURPOSE: To determine the histamine levels of the rat conjunctiva following local administration of fluoxetine, a selective serotonin uptake inhibitor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Basal histamine and amine levels were determined in the rat conjunctiva following local application of compound 48/80. Fluoxetine was administered in the conjunctival fornix of the left eye of the rat, whereas the right eye, serving as control, received a drop of vehicle. After one hour, the conjunctiva was removed and homogenized, and the tissue histamine content was quantified fluorometrically. RESULTS: Histamine levels reached 149.6%+/-11.6 of the control eye after local administration of fluoxetine. This increase was statistically significant (p<0.004) compared to the control. Simultaneous application of the histamine releaser compound 48/80 re-established normal histamine levels in the conjunctiva. CONCLUSION: It can be postulated that the selective serotonin uptake inhibitors play an important role in the histamine concentration of the conjunctiva and in its variations.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2002

Identification of estrogen and progesterone receptor mRNA expression in the conjunctiva of premenopausal women.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to identify the expression of estrogen and progesterone receptor mRNA and of estrogen and progesterone receptor protein in the conjunctiva of healthy women. METHODS: Specimens of conjunctival tissue of 10 premenopausal women (age range, 13-38 years) were obtained during ophthalmic surgery in patients under general anesthesia. Specimens of approximately 4 mm(2) were taken from superior, nasal, or temporal bulbar conjunctiva adjacent to the bulbus and were immediately deep frozen with liquid nitrogen. Four women underwent strabismus surgery, two had phacoemulsification, and four had vitrectomy. Only three women were taking oral contraceptives. The expression of estrogen receptor (ER)-alpha, ERbeta, and progesterone receptor (PR) mRNA was analyzed by RT-PCR. Western blot analysis on nuclear extracts was performed with the anti-ERalpha mouse monoclonal antibody AB-15, the anti-ERbeta mouse monoclonal antibody 6B12, and the anti-PR mouse monoclonal antibody PgR 636. RESULTS: In two samples, ERalpha, ERbeta, and PR mRNAs were not accessible because of highly degraded RNA. In the remaining eight samples, an appearance rate of 100% was obtained for all three mRNAs. Similarly, an appearance rate of 100% was obtained for ERalpha, ERbeta, and PR protein in nine tissue samples accessible for analysis; one sample could not be analyzed due to a low amount of tissue. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the existence of estrogen and progesterone receptors in the human conjunctiva of premenopausal females. Because the proteins of estrogen and progesterone were also found in this study's specimens, the data indicate that the conjunctiva is a target site for sex steroids. Future studies are needed to elucidate the role of these receptors in ocular diseases involving the conjunctiva.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

White-light and laser confocal microscopic findings of rabbit conjunctiva.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To report laser and white-light confocal microscopic findings of ex vivo rabbit conjunctiva to investigate the potential application of these confocal microscopes as diagnostic devices for normal and pathologic conjunctiva. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three male albino rabbits were killed and six eyeballs were removed with as much bulbar conjunctiva as possible. The bulbar conjunctiva approximately 5 mm away from the limbus was then subjected to an ex vivo laser and white-light confocal microscopic analysis. RESULTS: Using laser confocal microscopy, conjunctival epithelial cells, subepithelial conjunctival vessels, and sclera were clearly observed. By contrast, white-light confocal microscopy yielded images of conjunctival epithelium, subepithelial layers, and sclera that were not clearly defined. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that laser confocal microscopy has a superior ability to visualize ex vivo, non-fixed conjunctiva when compared with white-light confocal microscopy. It also suggests that the laser confocal microscope might be a useful, non-invasive, in vivo, "quasi-cytological" device for observing and diagnosing the conjunctival condition in humans.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Glycosaminoglycans in pterygium tissues and normal conjunctiva.

Glycosaminoglycans (GAG) in pterygium tissues were analyzed and the results were compared with those in the normal human conjunctiva. A marked difference in the GAG composition was found: 78% of the total hexosamines of GAG from pterygium was glucosamine, whereas 98% of those of the conjunctiva was galactosamine. Pterygium contained mainly hyaluronic acid (48.8%), followed by chondroitin sulfate A, chondroitin sulfate C, chondroitin and dermatan sulfate in this order. The normal conjunctiva contained mainly chondroitin sulfate C (73.5%), followed by chondroitin sulfate A and chondroitin sulfate E-like GAG. The amino acid composition showed some differences between pterygium and normal conjunctiva. The pterygium tissues contained an extremely large amount of hydroxyproline, but the conjunctiva contained a very small amount of this substance. Considerable changes in amino acid composition of both tissues were found after digestion with elastase.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1995

[Coagulase-negative staphylococci in normal and chronically inflamed conjunctiva].

UNLABELLED: This study examines the prevalence of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species in normal and mildly inflamed conjunctiva, their sensitivity to antibiotics, and their relationship to the remaining flora. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In 99 patients including 9 HIV-positives in an early stage of the infection, 100 conjunctival swabs were taken and microbiologically investigated for bacteria and fungi. Thirty-four were from healthy eyes. 40 were from patients with chronic (n = 28) and unspecific (n = 12) conjunctivitis, 17 were from patients with a variety of outer inflammatory ocular conditions, and 9 were from the HIV group from uninfected (n = 6) and infected (n = 3) conjunctivae. Samples from each patient were collected with three moistened cotton swabs and directly inoculated onto five different agars, followed by immersion into three specific culture broths. Staphylococci were identified species-wise, the other microorganisms genus-wise. Sensitivity to a broad spectrum of antibiotics was determined by agar diffusion tests. OUTCOME: Staphylococci were found in 89%, which was the highest prevalence genus-wise. Of those, coagulase-negative species accounted for 86%, while coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in 12% of all swabs. In the 86 smears positive for coagulase-negative staphylococci, 151 different strains were isolated. In these strains, resistance to the 13 tested antibiotics varied from 0% for vancomycin to 66% for penicillin. Strains which were isolated from patients with chronic conjunctivitis showed a greater range of resistance than those from normal flora, with significant levels for ciprofloxacin, gentamycin and kanamycin (Mann-Whitney) U-test: P < 0.05). All except six strains of staphylococci were identified strains represented ten species, of which Staphylococcus epidermidis was most prevalent (74%), but only made up 70% of all isolated strains of the coagulase-negative staphylococci. Staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative bacteria were found significantly more commonly in patients which chronic conjunctivitis than in healthy eyes, while coagulase-negative species of the Micrococcaceae family were significantly more prevalent in the healthy than in the chronically inflamed conjunctiva (chi-square: P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The conjunctiva can simultaneously host several stems of coagulase-negative staphylococci, which differ in regard to species and resistance to antibiotics. This variety might indicate a microbiological balance of the conjunctiva and be reduced in chronic inflammatory conditions. In patients with chronic conjunctivitis the risk for multiresistant coagulase-negative staphylococci is increased.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1996

Collagen abnormalities in conjunctiva of patients with cicatricial pemphigoid.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the distribution and types of collagen in the substantia propria of the conjunctiva of patients with ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP). Biopsy specimens were collected from 10 patients with active OCP, five patients with active Behçet's disease, nine patients with atopic keratoconjunctivitis, five patients with chronic rosacea blepharoconjunctivitis, and six normal patients undergoing cataract surgery. Cryostat tissue sections were cut and stained using an indirect immunofluorescence technique, employing a panel of primary antibodies directed against seven collagen types. Differences between OCP, Behçet's, and normal conjunctiva were seen in the staining for collagen types III, IV, and VII. The intensity of staining for type III collagen was increased in the substantia propria of OCP conjunctiva as compared to the other groups. The basement membrane zone (BMZ) of OCP patients was typically disrupted and fragmented in appearance when stained for type IV collagen, a finding not seen in the non-OCP specimens. The BMZ staining pattern for type VII collagen in OCP conjunctiva was even more disrupted than that seen for type IV collagen, particularly on the posterior side, which was thickened and reduplicated with short fibers extending into the superficial stroma. The production of type III collagen by fibroblasts of the substantia propria is a common feature of diseases associated with subepithelial fibrosis. The damage to the epithelial BMZ and the subsequent attempt at repair with aberrant type IV and VII collagen production are unique to conjunctiva affected by OCP.

Collagen↗
PubMed1999

Differential distribution of subchains of the basement membrane components type IV collagen and laminin among the amniotic membrane, cornea, and conjunctiva.

PURPOSE: Amniotic membrane transplantation has been reported to be an effective surgical procedure for the reconstruction of the anterior segment of the eye. To understand better the function of transplanted amniotic membrane, we compared the distributions of subchains of type IV collagen and laminin in the amniotic membrane to those in the cornea and conjunctiva. METHODS: Five human corneas with conjunctivas and three human amniotic membranes were frozen in OCT compound. Cryosections were cut with a cryostat and stained by an indirect immunofluorescent microscopy. We used antibodies of the collagen alpha2(IV) and alpha5(IV) subchains, laminin-1, laminin-5, fibronectin, and type VII collagen. RESULTS: In the conjunctival basement membrane and the amniotic membrane, fluorescence was evident for collagen alpha2(IV) but not for collagen alpha5(IV). By contrast, in the corneal basement membrane, fluorescence was apparent for the collagen alpha5(IV) subchain but not for the collagen alpha2(IV) subchain. Laminin-1, laminin-5, fibronectin, and type VII collagen were present in all the basement membranes examined. CONCLUSION: The distribution of alpha subchains of type IV collagen in the amniotic membrane was identical to that in the conjunctiva but different from that in the cornea. No difference in the distribution pattern of other basement membrane components was observed. These results demonstrate that the basement membrane of the amniotic membrane and the conjunctiva might share the same components; therefore, the amniotic membrane might be useful as a replacement for the basement membrane of the conjunctiva.

Amnion↗
PubMed1990

Lymphoid hyperplasia and malignant lymphoma occurring in the ocular adnexa (orbit, conjunctiva, and eyelids): a prospective multiparametric analysis of 108 cases during 1977 to 1987.

We performed a prospective multiparametric correlative clinical, histopathologic, and immunologic analysis of 117 ocular adnexal lymphoid proliferations developing in 108 patients between October 1977 and July 1987. The ocular adnexal lymphoid proliferations were distributed among the 108 patients as follows: orbit 69 (64%), conjunctiva 30 (28%), and eyelids nine (8%). The 117 ocular adnexal lymphoid proliferations were classified as follows: polyclonal lymphoid hyperplasia, 32 (22 orbit, nine conjunctiva, one eyelid) (27%); monoclonal B cell lymphoma, 81 (48 orbit, 25 conjunctiva, eight eyelid) (69%); null cell lymphoma, one (orbit) (1%); and histologically indeterminate, three (one each: orbit, conjunctiva, eyelid) (3%). Patients presenting with ocular adnexal polyclonal lymphoid hyperplasia and monoclonal B cell lymphoma, and patients developing unilateral and bilateral ocular adnexal lymphoid proliferations did not differ significantly with respect to age, sex, presenting complaints, duration of symptoms, or ophthalmic findings. Classifying ocular adnexal lymphoid proliferations into benign and malignant categories by histopathologic criteria and into polyclonal and monoclonal B cell categories by immunophenotypic criteria was not useful in predicting eventual outcome, including the occurrence of extraocular lymphoma. However, the clinicopathologic characteristics did differ according to the anatomic site of involvement and histopathology of the ocular adnexal lymphoid proliferations. Lymphoid infiltrates of the conjunctiva were associated with a lower incidence of extra-ocular lymphoma (20%) than were those of the orbit and eyelid, 35% and 67%, respectively (statistically significant, P less than .03). Ocular adnexal small lymphocytic and intermediate lymphocytic lymphomas were less often associated with extra-ocular lymphoma than were ocular adnexal lymphomas of all other histologic types, 27% and 46%, respectively (P less than .09). However, the single most important and statistically significant prognostic factor in these patients was the extent of disease at the time of presentation with an ocular adnexal lymphoid proliferation (P less than .001). Eighty-six percent of patients presenting with a unilateral or bilateral clinical stage lE ocular adnexal lymphoid proliferation, regardless of the histopathology or the immunophenotype, had a benign indolent clinical course and failed to develop ocular or extra-ocular lymphoma during a median follow-up period of 51 months. The results of this study substantially improve our understanding of extranodal small lymphocytic proliferations in general, and those of the ocular adnexa in particular.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Prevalence of equine herpesvirus type 2 (EHV-2) DNA in ocular swabs and its cell tropism in equine conjunctiva.

Equine herpes virus 2 (EHV-2), a gamma(2)-herpesvirus, is common in horses of all ages. Its role as a primary pathogen is unclear but there is an association between EHV-2, respiratory disease and keratoconjunctivitis. The purpose of this study was to gain more information on the prevalence of EHV-2 DNA in conjunctival swabs from horses with and without ocular disease and to define the anatomical site and cell type harbouring viral genome or antigen. By polymerase chain reaction (PCR) 22 out of 77 (28.6%) ocular swabs of clinically healthy and only 4 out of 48 (8.3%) samples from diseased horses were positive. To define the main virus reservoir ocular tissue from 13 randomly selected horses without pathological evidence of ocular disease were analysed by nested PCR. In two horses optic nerve, lacrimal gland and conjunctiva, in further two cases lacrimal gland and conjunctiva and in four horses the conjunctiva only were EHV-2 PCR positive. For specifying the target cell we focused on conjunctivae and selected 3 out of 15 clinically healthy slaughterhouse horses positive for EHV-2 by PCR. In situ hybridisation on sections of these paraffin embedded conjunctivae localized viral genome in histiocyte-like cells of the submucosa. Immunohistochemical staining with an EHV-2 or S100 specific polyclonal antiserum demonstrated that Langerhans cells were co-localized in the same region of the sample section where virus positive cells were detected. Furthermore, we concluded that detection of viral antigen revealed a productive virus infection.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Tumors of the cornea and conjunctiva.

This article reviews the literature published in 1996 regarding conjunctival and corneal tumors. There is an increased incidence of squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva in patients with HIV infection, especially in young individuals and Africans. Presumed causative factors for conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma include ultraviolet light, HIV infection, human papillomavirus and other unknown factors. Metastatic tumors to the conjunctiva appear at an advanced stage of the disease, and metastases to the conjunctiva are a poor prognostic sign for survival. Reviews of premalignant lesions of the conjunctiva, including diagnosis, treatment, and recurrence, are discussed. Spindle cell and mucoepidermoid variants of squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva have a worse prognosis for intraocular extension compared with usual conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma.

Conjunctival Neoplasms↗
PubMed1996

Metastatic tumours to the conjunctiva: report of 10 cases.

AIMS/BACKGROUND: Ten patients with metastatic tumours to the conjunctiva and the clinical aspects of this rare form of ocular metastasis are described in this study. METHOD: All patients with ocular and adnexal metastatic tumours referred to an ocular oncology service were reviewed and those having conjunctival metastases were studied for the site of their primary tumour, clinical features, and treatment of the conjunctival tumour, associated ocular and systemic findings, and the patients' outcome. RESULTS: The primary malignancy was carcinoma of the breast in four, lung cancer in two, laryngeal carcinoma in one, cutaneous melanoma in two, and unknown in one patient. The conjunctival metastases appeared after the primary tumour over a mean period of 44 (8-130) months. They were solitary in eight cases, located in bulbar conjunctiva in six, palpebral conjunctiva in two, and in limbus and forniceal conjunctiva in one patient each. The tumour was yellow in colour in seven patients, red in two, and brown in one. Eight patients also had metastases to other ocular structures. Seven patients received external beam radiotherapy to the affected eye, two were managed by excisional biopsy, and one with chemotherapy. The mean survival after the diagnosis of conjunctival metastasis was nine (range 2-26) months. CONCLUSION: Metastatic tumours to the conjunctiva appear at an advanced stage of the systemic disease when there are other ocular and organ metastases. The presence of a conjunctival mass in a patient with a prior systemic cancer should alert the ophthalmologist to the possibility of a conjunctival metastasis and evaluation should be pursued.

Adult↗