Ulcer, Corneal Workup
- Author: Fernando H Murillo-Lopez, MD; Chief Editor: Hampton Roy Sr, MD more...
Laboratory Studies
- Polymyositis and dermatomyositis - Elevated serum muscle enzyme levels, especially creatine phosphokinase (CK), serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), as well as elevated ANA levels
- Wegener granulomatosis - Abnormal chest x-ray; urinary sediment-microhematuria or red blood cell casts; positive antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (C-ANCA) appears to be the most sensitive and specific test outside of biopsy for the diagnosis this condition.
- Polyarteritis nodosa - Elevated blood urea nitrogen or creatinine level; presence of hepatitis B surface antigen or antibody in serum; arteriographic evidence of aneurysms or occlusions (nonarteriosclerotic); presence of polymorphonuclear cells in artery walls on biopsy of small- or medium-sized arteries
- Mooren ulcer - A deficiency of suppressor T cells has been found in the serum of a patient with Mooren ulcer, while another study showed a helper T cell/suppressor cell ratio of greater than 1:1 in 6 of 9 patients with Mooren ulcer. Recent studies have shown that most of the resident cells from specimens with Mooren ulcers express the class 2 antigens, human leukocyte antigen DR (HLA-DR) or human leukocyte antigen DQ (HLA-DQ). Another study demonstrated that the sera from patients with Mooren ulcer had high antibody titers to a cornea-specific stromal protein antigen.
- Systemic lupus erythematosus - Of patients with SLE, 50-60% have antibodies to cardiolipin. The American College of Rheumatology has suggested 11 classification criteria for SLE. Patients are considered to have SLE if they meet 4 of the following criteria:
- Malar rash
- Discoid rash
- Photosensitive rash
- Oral ulcers
- Nonerosive arthritis in 2 or more joints
- Pleuritis or pericarditis
- Glomerulonephritis or proteinuria
- Seizures or psychosis
- Hemolytic anemia, leukopenia, lymphopenia, or thrombocytopenia
- Immunologic laboratory abnormality, such as antibodies to double-stranded DNA or the SM antigen or a false-positive serologic test for syphilis
- Positive ANA test that is not caused by a medication
- Wegener granulomatosis - C-ANCA
- Scleroderma - Anti-Sci-70 antibody tests and anticentromere antibodies (CREST variant)
- Rheumatoid arthritis - Approximately 80% of patients with RA have a positive test for rheumatoid factor.
Histologic Findings
In Wegener granulomatosis, histologic findings include necrotizing, granulomatous vasculitis with infiltrative neutrophils, lymphocytes, plasma cells, histiocytes, and giant cells.
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