K B Bjerrum1. 1. Department of Ophthalmology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To compare the protein composition of tear fluid obtained from patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome, patients with other connective tissue diseases and control individuals. METHODS: SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by staining with Coomassie blue and Western blotting. RESULTS: Comparison revealed the presence of a characteristic difference in the ratio of intensity between the albumin and lactoferrin bands. An albumin:lactoferrin ratio above 2:1 was significantly more common in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome than in patients with other connective tissue diseases or the controls. CONCLUSION: An albumin:lactoferrin ratio above 2:1 may therefore prove of use when diagnosing 1(0)SS. Used as a test, its sensitivity was 67% and its specificity 100%.
PURPOSE: To compare the protein composition of tear fluid obtained from patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome, patients with other connective tissue diseases and control individuals. METHODS:SDSpolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by staining with Coomassie blue and Western blotting. RESULTS: Comparison revealed the presence of a characteristic difference in the ratio of intensity between the albumin and lactoferrin bands. An albumin:lactoferrin ratio above 2:1 was significantly more common in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome than in patients with other connective tissue diseases or the controls. CONCLUSION: An albumin:lactoferrin ratio above 2:1 may therefore prove of use when diagnosing 1(0)SS. Used as a test, its sensitivity was 67% and its specificity 100%.