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Evaluation of lacrimal fluid as an alternative for monitoring glucose in critically ill patients

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Abstract

Objective

This study evaluated the use of lacrimal fluid glucose concentrations as a minimally invasive, alternative sampling strategy for monitoring glucose concentrations in surgical/trauma ICU patients.

Design and setting

Prospective, paired sample study in an adult surgical/trauma ICU.

Patients

Patients receiving subcutaneous or intravenous insulin requiring routine capillary blood glucose measurements. Patients receiving ocular lubricants, artificial tears, or routinely administered ophthalmic medications and patients with facial injuries were excluded.

Interventions

Lacrimal fluid was collected using glass capillary tube placed near the cul-de-sac of the eye. Capillary blood glucose was determined using a bedside glucose meter as per routine ICU care.

Measurements and results

Lacrimal fluid glucose concentration was analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography with pulse amperometric detection. Forty-four paired samples from five patients were analyzed. Pearson correlation between lacrimal fluid (µM) and blood glucose (mM) concentrations and the proportional change from baseline revealed no significant associations. Due to the very poor association, enrollment was discontinued after five patients.

Conclusions

Lacrimal fluid and blood glucose concentrations were poorly correlated, suggesting that the former is not a reliable alternative to blood glucose monitoring in surgical/trauma ICU patients requiring insulin therapy.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Joseph Beres for his hard work and dedication to this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Pharmacy, Ohio State University, 500 West 12th Ave., Columbus, OH, 43210, USA

    Jaclyn M. LeBlanc

  2. School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, N.Y., USA

    Jaclyn M. LeBlanc & Curtis E. Haas

  3. Department of Surgery, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, N.Y., USA

    Curtis E. Haas

  4. Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, N.Y., USA

    Glorimar Vicente & Luis A. Colon

Authors
  1. Jaclyn M. LeBlanc
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  2. Curtis E. Haas
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  3. Glorimar Vicente
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  4. Luis A. Colon
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jaclyn M. LeBlanc.

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LeBlanc, J.M., Haas, C.E., Vicente, G. et al. Evaluation of lacrimal fluid as an alternative for monitoring glucose in critically ill patients. Intensive Care Med 31, 1442–1445 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-005-2747-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-005-2747-5

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