Effects of Minocycline on Cytokine Levels in Severe Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

Summary

One of the important factors in obtaining successful outcomes when treating severe meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is to control the existing ocular and eyelid inflammation. Thus, in previous studies, topical and systemic antibiotics with anti-inflammatory function, such as topical azithromycin, systemic tetracycline, doxycycline and minocycline, have been used to treat severe MGD. In this study, minocycline which had the fewest side effects was used to evaluate the effect on cytokine levels in severe MGD. At study initiation, all patients completed an Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire and had an ocular surface, tear, and meibomian gland evaluation that consisted of fluorescein tear break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer test, corneal and conjunctival fluorescein staining, microscopic examination of lid margins and meibomian glands, and tear cytokine levels. All measurements except tear cytokine levels were conducted in the same manner before treatment, after 1 month, and after 2 months of treatment. Tear cytokine levels were evaluated before treatment and after 2 months of treatment. The aim of this research was to determine the concentration of inflammatory cytokines in the tears of patients with MGD and to compare the cytokine levels, corresponding clinical responses, and ocular symptoms before and after 2 months of treatment with oral minocycline.

Timeline

Start

2011-11

Primary completion

2012-07

Completion

2013-03

Publications

• Results Hom MM, Martinson JR, Knapp LL, Paugh JR. Prevalence of Meibomian gland dysfunction. Optom Vis Sci. 1990 Sep;67(9):710-2. doi: 10.1097/00006324-199009000-00010.
• Results Schaumberg DA, Nichols JJ, Papas EB, Tong L, Uchino M, Nichols KK. The international workshop on meibomian gland dysfunction: report of the subcommittee on the epidemiology of, and associated risk factors for, MGD. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2011 Mar 30;52(4):1994-2005. doi: 10.1167/iovs.10-6997e. Print 2011 Mar. No abstract available.
• Results Knop E, Knop N, Millar T, Obata H, Sullivan DA. The international workshop on meibomian gland dysfunction: report of the subcommittee on anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology of the meibomian gland. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2011 Mar 30;52(4):1938-78. doi: 10.1167/iovs.10-6997c. Print 2011 Mar. No abstract available.
• Results Tomlinson A, Bron AJ, Korb DR, Amano S, Paugh JR, Pearce EI, Yee R, Yokoi N, Arita R, Dogru M. The international workshop on meibomian gland dysfunction: report of the diagnosis subcommittee. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2011 Mar 30;52(4):2006-49. doi: 10.1167/iovs.10-6997f. Print 2011 Mar. No abstract available.
• Lee H, Min K, Kim EK, Kim TI. Minocycline controls clinical outcomes and inflammatory cytokines in moderate and severe meibomian gland dysfunction. Am J Ophthalmol. 2012 Dec;154(6):949-957.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.ajo.2012.06.009. Epub 2012 Sep 8.

Drugs

Indications