Interleukin‑6 and tumor necrosis factor‑α levels in tear film of Keratoconus patients

It is hypothesized that increased inflammatory markers in keratoconus (KC) may be one of the causes of corneal damage. The aim of our study was to the measurement of tumor necrosis factor‑alpha (TNF‑α) and interleukin‑6 (IL)‑6 in tear of patients with KC and investigate their relationship with the severity of KC.

The current study was performed on KC patients and healthy controls with a case‑control setting. Tear levels of TNF‑α and IL‑6 were measured after collecting the tears from the tear lake using a filter paper via Schirmer I method without anesthesia.

Eighty‑one KC patients (mean age 29.45 ± 5.06 years) and 85 controls (mean age 28.01 ± 5.14 years) were enrolled. The mean levels of IL‑6 and TNF‑α were 26.77 ± 8.16, and 34.58 ± 9.82 pg/ml in the healthy group and 103.22 ± 51.94, and 183.76 ± 54.61 pg/ml in the KC group, respectively (P < 0.001). There was a significant relationship between the severity of the KC and the mean levels of IL‑6 TNF‑α in the case group (P < 0.001).

Our results indicated that the mean levels of IL‑6 and TNF‑α are significantly higher in KC than the healthy group, and the disease severity was significantly associated with TNF‑α and IL‑6.