Topic: ESOPRS 2021 ePoster sessions
Time: Sep 17, 2021 16:00 Amsterdam, Berlin, Rome, Stockholm, Vienna, 15:00 London
(plain text version here)
Can tears trace elements levels predict primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction?
Author: Yoav Vardizer
ePoster Number: 125,00
Purpose
Primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction (PANDO) is considered idiopathic in most cases. Trace elements in biofluids are gaining recognition as potential biomarkers for systemic and ocular health. This study was aimed to characterize and compare the elemental composition of tear and blood samples in patients with PANDO and healthy controls using particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE), a high-sensitivity technique suitable for small-volume samples.
Methods
A prospective, comparative study was conducted on 30 participants 15 with PANDO and 15 controls matched by age and gender. Tear and blood samples were analyzed via PIXE. Statistical methods included univariate tests, and multivariate analyses (PCA, PLS-DA, PERMANOVA), including hierarchical clustering to assess forgroup differences.
Results
Twelve elements were identified in tears and eleven in blood samples. Elevated Na and Cl levels were detected in both affected (Na: p = 0.003, Cl: p = 0.031) and unaffected eyes (Na: p = 0.001, Cl: p = 0.033) of PANDO patients. Additionally, P ( p = 0.021) and S (p = 0.041) were significantly higher in tears from unaffected PANDO eyes. Multivariate analysis confirmed a distinct tear elemental profile in PANDO patients compared to controls, primarily driven by differences in sodium levels. Inra-individual comparisons between affected and unaffected eyes in unilateral PANDO cases showed no significant differences. Blood samples showed no differences, with only Cu significantly elevated in PANDO patients (p = 0.034), and no clear group separation in multivariate or clustering analyses.
Conclusion
Surprisingly, both the affected and unaffected eyes of PANDO patients showed distinct elemental profiles, differing from healthy controls. This suggests bilateral subclinical changes that may precede obstruction. The altered tear composition appears to reflect localized ocular processes rather than systemic influences. Taken together, these insight highlight tear elemental analysis as a promising, non-invasive tool for understanding PANDO and identifying at-risk individuals.
Additional Authors
| First name | Last name | Base Hospital / Institution |
|---|---|---|
| Yakov | Rabinovich | bnai zion medical center, Haifa |
| Mohammed | Darawshe | Felsenstein Medical Research Center,Tel Aviv |
| Nitza | Goldenberg-Cohen | bnai zion medical center, Haifa |
Abstract ID: 25-349
