[Epidermal growth factor receptor in conjunctiva].

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was studied in conjunctiva. Two specimens of normal conjunctiva and eleven of diseases ones, consisting of 2 pingueculas, 4 healing traumatic conjunctiva , and 5 proliferative disorders, were studied immunohistochemically using rabbit anti-human EGFR antibody with avitin-biotin and diaminobentizin method. These investigations revealed that the immunoreactive EGFR was identified only in the conjunctiva of 2 of the 3 cases of granuloma following pterygium surgery but not in the other specimens, including the normal conjunctiva. This fact suggests that abnormal expression of the EGFR could play a role in pathological status of conjunctiva.