Possibilities of using cryotherapy in patients with ocular rosacea

Abstract

Objective: to evaluate the clinical efficiency of eyelid cryotherapy with an autonomous titanium nicke lide cryoapplicator in patients with ocular rosacea regarding the dynamics of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines contents at local levels. Materials and methods. 65 patients with ocular rosacea were observed. Depending on the therapy received, the patients were divided into two groups: in the main group, eyelid cryotherapy was applied for 2 weeks with an autonomous cryoapplicator made of porous-permeable titanium nickelide, and in the reference group, the patients received a traditional treatment for a month. The contents of cytokines (IL-1β, IL-8, IFN-α, IL-2, IL-10) in lachrymal fluid was evaluated by ELISA on Days 3, 7 and 30 after treatment. Results. The opposite nature of cytokine balance changes and the ratio of its pro- and anti-inflammatory link during the follow-up period were revealed. A reliable dynamic increase of examined IFN-α and IL2 content in the lacrimal fluid after cryostimulation can evidence for an adequate activation of cellular immunity link, as well as for enhancement of regeneration mechanisms. Conclusion. The analysis of obtained data evidences for a high efficiency of clinical and immunological effect of lid cryotherapy using titanium nickelide cryoprobe for ocular rosacea treatment.