Tear lactoferrin levels in chronic meibomitis associated with acne rosacea

PURPOSE. To determine tear lactoferrin levels in patients with chronic diff use meibomitis associated with acne rosacea and to investigate their role i n the development and perpetuation of some inflammatory ocular surface comp lications. METHODS. In this non-randomized, controlled trial performed in a tertiary c are center, eight patients with biopsy-proven acne rosacea and blepharitis, and ten patients with seborrheic blepharitis not associated with acne rosa cea formed the study groups and ten normal patients were used as controls. Schirmer I test results, fear break-up time and radial immunodiffusion (Lac toplate(TM)) tests on tear samples of the three groups were compared. RESULTS. Compared to controls, tear lactoferrin concentrations were lower i n both the acne rosacea and seborrheic blepharitis groups. However, this de crease was significant in only the seborrheic blepharitis group (p = 0.026) . One patient in the acne rosacea group, with the lowest measurement, devel oped bacterial keratitis. CONCLUSIONS. Though within the normal range, tear lactoferrin levels in pat ients with acne rosacea and seborrheic blepharitis were lower than controls . Low concentrations of lactoferrin may play a role in the ocular surface i nflammatory components associated with these diseases.