Tear Electrophoretic Changes in Nigerian Children After Measles

At the laboratory of the National Centre of Ophthalmology, Paris, tear electrophoresis on cellulose acetate support was studied in 56 Nigerian children--32 during and shortly after measles infection and 24 healthy controls. The controls had a normal pattern, while those with measles had patterns consistent with inflammation, most severe in the first week but showing varying degrees of recovery by the third week. Four weeks after measles all cases suffering from malnutrition had patterns with an additional peak. This was shown on further investigation by electrophoresis on polyacrylamide cellulose gel and immunoelectrophoresis to be due to serum transferrin. The normal protein pattern of tears is shown to be altered during and after measles infection.