Linear IgA disease. The ocular manifestations.

The ocular history and examination of a 54-year-old Filipino woman with linear IgA disease is described. Results of the eye examination were consistent with chronic cicatricial conjunctivitis, showing subconjunctival fibrosis and symblepharon formation. Direct immunofluorescence of the conjunctiva was positive for IgA and C3 in a linear pattern along the epithelial basement membrane. The ophthalmologic and dermatologic findings in linear IgA disease are compared with those of dermatitis herpetiformis, bullous pemphigoid, and cicatricial pemphigoid. This is the first documented case report of the ocular manifestations of linear IgA disease in the American literature.