[The normal tear fluid and decreased tearing in patients with Sjögren's disease and Sjögren's syndrome. II. The lipid content].

Studies of total lipids--squalene, cholesterol and sterol ethers, fatty acids and their ethers, lanosterol, oxysterols and phospholipids in 25 patients (50 eyes) with Sjogren's disease and 26 patients (52 eyes) with Sjogren's syndrome have revealed a statistically significant reduction of phospholipid quantities and an increase in fatty acids, and cholesterol in patients vs. the normal subjects. Possible influence of lipid components on the structure and function of the tear pellicle is discussed.