Background: Sulfur mustard (SM) is a chemical warfare agent which has been used
extensively during Iran- Iraq war. One of the major late complications is ocular
complications. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a group of zinc and calciumdependent
endopeptidases which play important roles in the homeostasis of extracellular
matrix (ECM) and inflammatory conditions. It has been proved that MMP-9 , as a member
of MMPs, is involved in many inflammatory ocular disorders.
Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between serum MMP-9 and late
ocular complications of SM exposure.
Methods: In this study, 72 chemical veterans with late ocular complications (case group)
& 63 chemical veterans without ocular complications (control group) were selected from
Sardasht via a systematic sampling. Ophthalmologic examinatia of the study group was
performed by slit lamp and serum MMP-9 was measured by ELISA sandwich method.
Results: The median of serum MMP-9 was 849.3pg/ml in the case group and 787.0pg/ml
in the control group. There was no significant statistical difference (p=0.700). There was
also no statistical relationship between serum MMP-9 and each involved ocular region.
Conclusions: In many studies, It has been proved that MMP-9 expression is increased in
tear fluid & culture media of conjunctival & corneal epithelial cells from patients with ocular
inflammatory diseases. Therefore, assessment of MMP-9 in mentioned samples of chemical
veterans with ocular complications would be valuable.