Evaluation of Keratoconus Disease with Tear Cytokine and Chemokine Levels Before and After Corneal Cross-Linking Treatment

ObjectivesTo compare tear cytokine and chemokine levels of keratoconus (KC) patients with controls to perceive etiology distinctly and to clarify the molecular changes after cross-linking (CXL).MethodsTear samples were gathered from 34 participants in this prospective study. Participants underwent anterior and posterior segment examinations with slit-lamp biomicroscopy. Patients were assessed by corneal topography before and 3 months after CXL. Flat (K-1), steep (K-2), and average keratometry (K-mean), cylinder (CYL), and central corneal thickness (CCT) values were evaluated. After 3 months from CXL, samples were re-collected, and comparisons were made with preoperative values.ResultsLevels of IFN-gamma, IL-8, IL-12, IL-17, TNF-alpha, IL-4 and IL-13 were detected higher in KC patients (p= 0.008, p= 0.047, p= 0.001, p= 0.001, p= 0.001, p= 0.001, p= 0.027, respectively). After CXL IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, TNF-alpha levels showed significant decrease (p= 0.005, p= 0.045, p= 0.010, p= 0.022, p= 0.001, p=0.002, respectively). As for the topographic measurements, postoperative CCT values were increased whereas K-mean reduced after CXL (p < 0.001, p = 0.015, respectively). (p= 0.001, p= 0.027, respectively).ConclusionOur findings imply that inflammation plays a key role in the development of KC and that this link is influenced by CXL therapy.

Automated summary

Comparing tear cytokine and chemokine levels in keratoconus (KC) patients and controls can help us understand the etiology more clearly and clarify the molecular changes after cross-linking (CXL).