Author/Editor		Cvenkel, B; Globočnik, M
Title		Conjuctival scrapings and impression cytology in chronic conjunctivitis. Correlation with microbiology
Type		članek
Source		Eur J Ophthalmol
Vol. and No.		Letnik 7, št. 1
Publication year		1997
Volume		str. 19-23
Language		eng
Abstract		To assess the utility of exfoliate cytology in the diagnosis of chronic conjunctivitis, we compared its findings with microbiological examination and established the correlation between cytology and microbiology in 32 patients with conjuctivitis lasting four weeks or more, with a nonsecific clinical picture. The material for cytology was collected by scraping and by imprint to the ocular surface on Millipore filter paper. The specimens were stained wiht Giemsa. Material for bacterial culture and fluorescent antibody test for viruses and Chlamydia were obtained at the same time. In 12 patients neutrophils predominated in cytology, in six eosinophils were found and in four there were more lymphocytes. One patient had a basophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion specific for Chlamydia infection. In eight patients coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species and in one Staphylococcus aureus were isolated. In two the fluorescent antibody test for Chlamydia was positive and in three for viruses. In all patients with a positive bacterial culture, a predominance of neutrophils was observed. All patients with a positive test for viruses had lymphocytosis in conjuctival scrapings. In two patients microbiology detected Chlamydia, but characteristic intracytoplasmic inclusions were observed only in one. Scrapings gave more specific results, that correlated well microbiology in bacterial and viral infection, whereas the results of impression cytology showed minor metaplastic changes of epithelial cells that were nonspecific for the type of inflammation. Cytology remains a useful non-invasive tool and is an adjunct to clinical and microbiological examination. it proved especially helpful in allergic conjuctivitis.
Descriptors		CONJUNCTIVITIS, BACTERIAL CONJUNCTIVITIS, VIRAL STAPHYLOCOCCAL INFECTIONS CHLAMYDIA INFECTIONS ANTIBODIES, BACTERIAL ANTIBODIES, VIRAL BIOPSY CHLAMYDIA CHRONIC DISEASE CONJUNCTIVAL DISEASES CYTOLOGICAL TECHNIQUES EOSINOPHILS LYMPHOCYTES VIRUSES