Blepharospasm, dry eye and extractable nuclear antigen antibodies.

PURPOSE: To study whether there is an association between benign essential blepharospasm and Sjögren's syndrome by analyzing the presence of antibodies to extractable nuclear antigens in this population.

METHODS

Seventy-two patients with benign essential blepharospasm (BEB) were included in this study. We excluded patients with hemifacial spasm or blepharospasm secondary to known corneal pathology. We recorded results of Schirmer I testing as well as levels of anti-SSA/Ro and anti-SSB/La antibodies.

RESULTS

Our study included 72 patients (144 eyes), of which 62 (86.1%) were women. The mean age was 74.3±10.73 years. The mean Schirmer I test result was 3.14±4.00mm. Five women (8% of this female population) were found to have positive anti-SSA/Ro and anti-SSB/La antibodies. Their mean age was 65.66±13.24 years, while the mean age of the antibody-negative patients was 75.42±9.27 years. There was no statistically significant difference between the Schirmer I tests of the antibody positive and negative patients.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates a possible association between Sjögren's syndrome and benign essential blepharospasm, justifying anti-SSA/Ro and anti-SSB/La testing in these patients.