There was no statistically significant difference found between the three studied groups regarding age, gender, and visual acuity with a p-value > 0.05. In the control group, there were 8 males [40%] and 12 females [60%]. The mean age was 29.8 ± 6.362, whilst in the early group, there were 8 males [40%] and 12 females [60%], and the mean age was 28.6 ± 6.548, while in the chronic group, there were 8 males [40%] and 12 females [60%], and the mean age was 30.45 ± 6.629.
Table 1 shows that the mean scores for the TBUT and Schirmer scores for the control group patients were (13.7 ± 1.488s) and (13.325 ± 1.5424mm), respectively, whilst the mean scores for the TBUT and Schirmer scores for the early group patients were (7.85 ± 2.1068s) and (7.525 ± 1.9347mm), respectively, while the mean scores for the TBUT and Schirmer scores for the chronic group patients were (9.625 ± 3.3258s) and (9.8 ± 3.4877mm) with a highly statistically significant difference with a P-value < 0.001.
Table 2 shows that most of the early group patients showed grades 1, 2 and 3 (20%, 35% and 30% respectively) in CIC results in 85% of the eyes, whilst in the chronic group patients showed grades 1, 2 and 3 (35%, 25%and 15% respectively) in CIC results in 75% of the eyes, while in the control subjects, impression cytology results showed that all cases were grade 0 (100%) with a highly statistically significant difference with P-value < 0.001.
Table 3 shows that most of the early group patients showed grades 1, 2& 3 (20%, 35%, and 30% respectively) in CIC results in 85% of eyes, while in the control subjects, impression cytology results showed that all cases were grade 0 (100%) with a highly statistically significant difference with P-value < 0.001.
Table 4 shows that most of the chronic group patients showed grades 1, 2& 3 (35%, 25%, and 15% respectively) in CIC results in 75% of eyes, while in the control subjects, impression cytology results showed that all cases were grade 0 (100%) with a highly statistically significant difference with P-value < 0.001.
Table 5 shows that most of the early group patients showed grades 1, 2& 3 (20%, 35%, and 30% respectively) in CIC results in 85% of the eyes, whilst in the chronic group patients showed grades 1, 2& 3 (35%, 25%, and 15% respectively) in CIC results in 75% of the eyes, with a statistically significant difference with P-value < 0.05.
Table 6 shows there was a statistically highly significant difference found between the three studied groups regarding Slit Lamp Examination with a P-value < 0.001, and in Fundus Examination there was a statistically significant difference found between the three studied groups of the studied patients with a P-value < 0.05.
Where in early group uveitis and allergy represented (25% &15%) respectively while in control group uveitis and allergy represented (10% &5%) respectively whilst in control group represented 0% BUT by fundus examination in early group optic neuritis represented (20%) while in control group optic neuritis represented (5%) whilst in control group represented 0%.
Table (1)
Comparison between the control group, early group, and chronic group regarding the TBUT, and Schirmer test of the studied patients by using ANOVA
|
N
|
Control group
|
Early diagnosed multiple sclerosis group
|
Chronic group
|
P value
|
N
|
M
|
±SD
|
N
|
M
|
±SD
|
N
|
M
|
±SD
|
F-statistic value
|
P value
|
Tear BUT
|
120
|
40
|
13.7
|
1.488
|
40
|
7.85
|
2.1068
|
40
|
9.625
|
3.3258
|
60.94168
|
0 < 0.001
|
Schirmer test
|
120
|
40
|
13.325
|
1.5424
|
40
|
7.525
|
1.9347
|
40
|
9.8
|
3.4877
|
56.0439
|
0 < 0.001
|
P-value < 0.001: Significant (S), F-statistic value, N (Number), M (Mean), and SD (Standard deviation). |
Table (2)
Comparison between the control group, early group, and chronic group regarding the Impression cytology of the studied patients by using ANOVA
Impression cytology
|
Control group
|
Early diagnosed multiple sclerosis group
|
Chronic group
|
P value
|
N = 40
|
N = 40
|
N = 40
|
N
|
%
|
N
|
%
|
N
|
%
|
F-statistic value
|
P value
|
Stage
|
G0
|
0
|
40
|
100%
|
6
|
15%
|
10
|
25%
|
48.79565
|
0 < 0.001
|
G1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
8
|
20%
|
14
|
35%
|
G2
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
14
|
35%
|
10
|
25%
|
G3
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
12
|
30%
|
6
|
15%
|
Total
|
40
|
100%
|
40
|
100%
|
40
|
100%
|
M = 0
|
SD = 0
|
M = 1.8
|
SD = ± 1.043
|
M = 1.3
|
SD = ± 1.018
|
P-value < 0.001: Significant (S), F-statistic value, N (Number), M (Mean), and SD (Standard deviation). |
Table (3)
Comparison between the control group, and early group regarding the Impression cytology of the studied patients by using T test
Impression cytology
|
Control group
|
Early diagnosed multiple sclerosis group
|
P value
|
N = 40
|
N = 40
|
N
|
%
|
N
|
%
|
T
|
P value
|
Stage
|
G0
|
0
|
40
|
100%
|
6
|
15%
|
-10.9144
|
0.00001 < 0.001
|
G1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
8
|
20%
|
G2
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
14
|
35%
|
G3
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
12
|
30%
|
Total
|
40
|
100%
|
40
|
100%
|
M = 0
|
SD = 0
|
M = 1.8
|
SD = ± 1.043
|
P-value < 0.001: Significant (S), and Independent t-test, N (Number), M (Mean), and SD (Standard deviation). |
Table (4)
Comparison between the control group, and chronic group regarding the Impression cytology of the studied patients by using T test
Impression cytology
|
Control group
|
Chronic group
|
P value
|
N = 40
|
N = 40
|
N
|
%
|
N
|
%
|
T
|
P value
|
Stage
|
G0
|
0
|
40
|
100%
|
10
|
25%
|
-8.0762
|
0.00001 < 0.001
|
G1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
14
|
35%
|
G2
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
10
|
25%
|
G3
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
6
|
15%
|
Total
|
40
|
100%
|
40
|
100%
|
M = 0
|
SD = 0
|
M = 1.3
|
SD = ± 1.018
|
P-value < 0.001: Significant (S), and Independent t-test, N (Number), M (Mean), and SD (Standard deviation). |
Table (5)
Comparison between the early group, and chronic group regarding the Impression cytology of the studied patients by using T test
Impression cytology
|
Early diagnosed multiple sclerosis group
|
Chronic group
|
P value
|
N = 40
|
N = 40
|
N
|
%
|
N
|
%
|
T
|
P value
|
Stage
|
G0
|
0
|
6
|
15%
|
10
|
25%
|
2.1697
|
0.03303 < 0.05
|
G1
|
1
|
8
|
20%
|
14
|
35%
|
G2
|
2
|
14
|
35%
|
10
|
25%
|
G3
|
3
|
12
|
30%
|
6
|
15%
|
Total
|
40
|
100%
|
40
|
100%
|
M = 1.8
|
SD = ± 1.043
|
M = 1.3
|
SD = ± 1.018
|
P-value < 0.05: Significant (S), and Independent t-test, N (Number), M (Mean), and SD (Standard deviation). |
Table (6)
Comparison between the control group, early group, and chronic group regarding the Slit lamp examination, and Fundus examination of the studied patients by using ANOVA
|
Control group
|
Early diagnosed multiple sclerosis group
|
Chronic group
|
P value
|
N = 40
|
N = 40
|
N = 40
|
N
|
%
|
N
|
%
|
N
|
%
|
F-statistic value
|
P value
|
Slit. Lamp. examination
|
NAD
|
40
|
100%
|
24
|
60%
|
34
|
85%
|
11.28062
|
|
0.00003 < 0.001
|
Allergy
|
0
|
0
|
6
|
15%
|
2
|
5%
|
|
Uveitis
|
0
|
0
|
10
|
25%
|
4
|
10%
|
|
Total
|
M = 1
|
SD = 0
|
M = 1.65
|
SD = 0.8638
|
M = 1.25
|
SD = 0.6304
|
|
Fundus examination
|
NAD
|
34
|
85%
|
24
|
60%
|
32
|
80%
|
6.19208
|
0.00278 < 0.05
|
Tigroid
|
6
|
15%
|
8
|
20%
|
6
|
15%
|
Optic neuritis
|
0
|
0
|
8
|
20%
|
2
|
5%
|
Total
|
M = 1.15
|
SD = 0.3616
|
M = 1.6
|
SD = 0.8102
|
M = 1.25
|
SD = 0.543
|
P-value < 0.05: Significant (S), F-statistic value, N (Number), M (Mean), and SD (Standard deviation). |