Comparison of IL-1βConcentration of Tear between Cases with Primary Acquired Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction and Cases without Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction

Primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction (PANDO) is an acquired disease characterized by persistent symptoms such as tearing, mucus secretion, recurrent conjunctivitis and eye irritations. Different etiologies such as conjunctival infections, and nasal and sinus diseases have been proposed. Pathological studies have revealed inflammation, vascular congestion and edema in the early stages, and fibrosis with nasolacrimal duct obstruction in the latter stages. The mechanism of cytokine increase in tear film, although not exactly clear, can be delayed clearance because of the lacrimal system obstruction. The aim of this study was to compare the concentration of IL-1β in the tear film between cases with primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction (PANDO) and cases without nasolacrimal duct obstruction.
Twenty-eight patients with PANDO (unilateral in 26 patients and bilateral in two patients) and 26 age and sex- matched patients with cataract but without nasolacrimal duct obstruction were divided into one of the three groups: eyes with PANDO (n=30), the normal fellow eyes of the patients with PANDO (n=26), and control eyes (n=26). In each eye, 20 μL of tear were taken and diluted 10 times before sending to the laboratory for centrifuging and measuring IL-1β concentration.
The mean participant was 48.85 (20-72) years and 53.46 (36-68) years in the PANDO group and control group, respectively. In the PANDO group, 7 patients (25%) were male and 21 (755) were female. These figures were 5 (19.25%) 21 (80.8%) in the control group, respectively. There was no significant difference in IL-1β concentration between control eyes and the normal fellow eyes of patients with PANDO (P=0.122). However, IL-1β concentration was significantly higher in eyes with PANDO as compared to the normal fellow eyes of patients with PANDO (P=0.001).
Our results suggest that the increase in IL-1β concentration was due to stasis and obstruction in tear drainage and was not a primary event. This results cannot be generalized to other cytokines that may increase prior to the obstruction.