Purpose: We analysed and compared electrophoretic tear protein patterns of healthy subjects and patients with different autoimmune diseases associated with secondary Sjogren's syndrome.
Materials and methods: Tears were collected using the Schirmer's method. Proteins were separated by sodium-dodecyl sulfate poliacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The lanes were stained by Coomassie blue and/or silver.
Results: Lactoferrin, albumin, lipocalin and lysozyme were found to be the main components being identified using molecular weight markers.
Conclusions: Electrophoretic analysis of tear proteins patterns is a fast, reproducible and simple method which provides information about the possibility of lacrimal gland involvement in autoimmmune diseases.