Conjunctival impression cytology in patients with normal and impaired OSDI scores Citología de impresión conjuntival en pacientes con valores OSDI normales y alterados

Abstract

© 2013 Sociedad Española de Oftalmología. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved. Purpose: To describe goblet cell density and Nelson grading in different areas of the ocu-lar surface using conjunctival impression cytology (CIC) among patients with normal andimpaired Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) scores. Material and methods: Patients (n = 166) under assessment for dry eye were recruited between 2011 and 2012 and classified according to the OSDI score in 4 categories (normal and impaired). Cytological study (CIC plus Papanicolaou staining) using the Nelson grading system, with modifications in staging, and goblet cell counting were performed on the nasal, temporal, inferior, and superior bulbar conjunctival surfaces. Results: Nelson grading was significantly higher in patients with a severely impaired OSDI score (1.41 ± 0.14) compared to normal patients (0.86 ± 0.09) (P<.01). Goblet cell density was significantly reduced in patients with a severely impaired OSDI