Influence of bone marrow transplantation on the eye and psychopathology

Purpose: Introduction: Bone Marrow Transplantation because of Leukemia is followed by changes of the immunological system. Patients suffer from complaints of the disease and its consequences, like Graft versus host reactions. In ophthalmologic observations we often can asses chronic inflammations with dry eyes. Those are induced by stress reaction, any kind of inflammation and any kind of irritations. Now we wanted to know, if there is a correlation of the ophthalmological changes, especially the dryness and the mental state, according to the bone marrow transplantation. Methods: 26 patients were observed, 11 of them in a follow up after 100 days. For ocular evaluations slit lamp obeservation were done. Severeness of Dryness was defined by a Sicca-Score, a mean of results of Schirmer‘s test, break up time, lipid layer thickness, and estimation of the tear meniscus. All results were equated. 0 for normal and 1 for worst possible result. Psychiatric symptoms were assesed by the symptom check list 90R (Derogatis) at baseline and follow up. We compared the results before and 100 days after the transplantation. For statistical analysis students-T-test and the Pearson correlation by SPSS was used. Results: There was a significant aggravation of the dryness in one eye; and there was a correlation in parts of the records between the dryness and the mental state. Conclusions: Bone marrow transplantation is an event, which influences the immunological system, the tearing system and the mental state of health.