Chronic inflammatory cells and damaged limbal cells in pterygium.

BACKGROUND

Chronic inflammation in pterygium occurrence has not been explained. Whether damaged limbal basal epithelial cells are associated with pterygium occurrence in black Africans is not clear.

OBJECTIVE

To explain chronic inflammation in pterygium, and to clarify whether damaged limbal basal epithelial cells were associated with pterygium occurrence in black Africans.

METHODS

Chronic inflammatory changes and damaged limbal basal epithelial cells were assessed in 59 samples.

RESULTS

Chronic inflammatory cells were present in 59 pterygia. Inflammatory cell count in 5 (27.8%) of 18 small pterygia was >200 (high) while in 22 (53.7%) of 41 large growths was <200 (low); p = 0.25. The proportion of pterygia with high counts tended to increase with pterygium extent. Twenty (33.9%) of 59 pterygia recurred after surgery. Ten (50%) of 20 samples had high cell counts and 10 (50%), low counts; p = 0.40. P53 expression was detected in 11 (18.6%) of 59 pterygium samples and 5 (71.4%) of 7 controls; p = 0.007. MMP 1 staining was present in 14 (23.7%) of 59 sections and 5 (71.4%) of 7 controls; p = 0.02. MMP2 in 16 (27.1%) cases and 5 (71.4%) controls; p = 0.03. MMP3 was overexpressed in 16 (27.1%) of 59 cases and 5 (71.4%) controls; p = 0.03.

CONCLUSIONS

Mild chronic inflammation has a tendency to be more frequent than severe inflammation in pterygia. It is clear that damaged limbal basal epithelial cells are unlikely to be related to pterygium occurrence.