Tear Abnormalities in Multiple Sclerosis

There is an extensive literature that implicates both cell-mediated and humoral mechanisms in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis(MS). Despite tremendous research efforts and the documentation of extensive immunologic abnormalities, its etiology and pathogenesis remain unknown [18,28]. Little work has been done on the role of the secretory immune system in this disease. Since the viral agents implicated in MS [26,26] infect the host through mucosal surfaces, we hypothesize that antibodies (Ab) to specific viruses or other immunological markers are present in the secretions of patients with MS. Our preliminary data indicates that MS tears differ from nervals and that mucosal immunity may be altered in MS.