Objective/Purpose
Dry eye disease(DED) is more common among HIV patients than the normal population. Although tear cytokine analysis has been performed in immunocompetent individuals, no studies have yet to be performed in HIV patients with DED. There is a lack of information currently regarding the clinical picture and pathogenesis of DED in HIV patients. We aim to analyse and compare tear cytokine levels of HIV patients and age-matched DED controls.

Materials/Patients
This is a prospective case-control study. Cases of 35 HIV positive individuals with DED and 35 age-gender matched immunocompetent controls with DED were recruited.Unstimulated tears were collected via the capillary tube method.

Methods
Samples were analyzed using the Milliplex 42-plex system. Measures of tear film cytokine levels were analyzed as continuous variables. One-way analysis of variance test to assess the difference in protein expression were used.

Results and Conclusion
HIV patients showed significantly higher levels of Interleukin-1-receptor antagonist (IL1RA), Macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) and FLT-3 Ligand (FLT-3l).(p<0.05). Whilst MDC and FLT-3l are pro-inflammatory, IL1-RA secreted by corneal epithelial cells is an anti-inflammatory agent. A complex interplay of inflammatory responses is present in tears of HIV patients, suggesting an immunogenic cause for DED in HIV patients. Anti-inflammatory therapies may be required to treat DED in HIV patients in addition.

[ Keyword ]
hiv, tear cytokines, dry eyes

[ Conflict of Interest ]
No