Interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α levels in tear film of Keratoconus patients

Background: It is hypothesized that increased inflammatory markers in keratoconus (KC) may be one of the causes of corneal damage. The aim of our study was to the measurement of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL)-6 in tear of patients with KC and investigate their relationship with the severity of KC. Materials and Methods: The current study was performed on KC patients and healthy controls with a case-control setting. Tear levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 were measured after collecting the tears from the tear lake using a filter paper via Schirmer I method without anesthesia. Results: Eighty-one KC patients (mean age 29.45 +/- 5.06 years) and 85 controls (mean age 28.01 +/- 5.14 years) were enrolled. The mean levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha were 26.77 +/- 8.16, and 34.58 +/- 9.82 pg/ml in the healthy group and 103.22 +/- 51.94, and 183.76 +/- 54.61 pg/ml in the KC group, respectively (P < 0.001). There was a significant relationship between the severity of the KC and the mean levels of IL-6 TNF-alpha in the case group (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Our results indicated that the mean levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha are significantly higher in KC than the healthy group, and the disease severity was significantly associated with TNF-alpha and IL-6.

Automated summary

The study found that levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 in tears of patients with keratoconus were significantly higher compared to healthy controls, and these inflammatory markers were associated with the severity of the disease.