Complement activation in tear fluid during occupational mold challenge.

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Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2008 Sep-Oct;16(5):224-9.

Complement activation in tear fluid during occupational mold challenge.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19065417?dopt=AbstractPlus Peltonen S,

Kari O, Jarva H, Mussalo-Rauhamaa H, Haahtela T, Meri S.

Skin and Allergy Hospital, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki,

Finland.

Introduction: Indoor air quality is important in occupational healthcare when

evaluating the health risks of a work environment. Components of the classical

and alternative complement pathways are present in ocular tissues and fluids.

The authors determined the levels of complement components C1INH, C3, and C4 in

sera and C3a in tear fluids of normal persons and of those who were exposed to

molds. Methods: Nine patients environmentally exposed to molds and 6 controls

were selected from the Indoor Air Clinic of the Skin and Allergy Hospital. Tear

fluid samples were collected from patients during the exposure to molds and

after 2 weeks without mold exposure. At the same time, conjunctival cytology

samples were obtained from each patient. Tear fluid was taken from 6 control

subjects. All had negative skin prick tests to common environmental allergens.

Results: In 4 patients subjective eye symptoms and tear fluid C3a levels

decreased during 2 weeks of sick leave as

did conjunctival eosinophils but other inflammatory cells were unchanged.

Conclusion: Elevated complement C3a levels in tear fluids may be influenced by

environmental exposure to molds. According to the authors' clinical experience,

eosinophilia is not a consistent finding in patients exposed to molds. However,

molds may cause eosinophilic inflammation in the eye.

PMID: 19065417 [PubMed - in process]