[Protein evaluation of tears: different biological parameters and their respective value].

PURPOSE

The lacrimal film contains 6 to 10 g/l of proteins, 99% of which locally synthesized by the lacrimal glands. The study of these proteins allows us to explore the lacrimal function and to reveal an inflammatory process.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The lacrimal proteinic profile included the determination of total proteins and electrophoresis on agarose gel and, if necessary, specific determinations of albumin, lactoferrin, lysozyme and immunoglobulins using a nephelemetric technique. Normal values were established on a hundred of individual tears.

RESULTS

The electrophoretic proteinic profile may present different abnormalities, such as an inflammatory process, a functional alteration of the lacrimal glands or a dysproteinic abnormality of the tears. The specific determination of the principal lacrimal proteins allows us to accurately quantify each of them.

CONCLUSION

The electrophoresis of the tears on an agarose gel reveals the presence of an inflammatory process or the quantitative or qualitative alteration of the lacrimal function. The immuno-nephelemetric determination of the most important proteins which are involved in theses mechanisms gives an accurate quantitative measurement of proteins and allows biological follow-up of the disease.