Dr. Lakshey Dudeja, D14561, Dr. Sandhya Krishnan, Dr. Naveen Luke Demonte, Dr. Prajna N V
Purpose: To analyse whether Complement factor H (CFH) levels in tear can be used to predict the clinical outcome in A.flavus keratitis patients.
Materials and methods: Tear samples were collected using capillary tube method from controls and patients in different stages of infection – early (<1 week), intermediate (1-2 weeks), late (>2 weeks). CFH protein was detected by immunoblot analysis using anti-CFH antibodies and the levels quantified by densitometric analysis are represented as band volume.
Results: CFH, a regulator of alternative complement pathway, was detected in all stages of A.flavus keratitis but undetected in healthy controls. Many patients who underwent therapeutic keratoplasty had higher levels of CFH while those who healed with anti-fungal treatment (14 patients) had CFH levels varying from 0 to 1.4e3 to 2.5e4.
Conclusion: Higher levels of CFH might be an indicator of delayed healing of the corneal ulcer.