[Immunological and clinical features of vernal keratoconjunctivitis between persons with and without systemic atopic dermatitis].

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether there exists immunological or clinical difference between patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis(VKC), which is characterized by conjunctival proliferative changes belonging to the serious spectrum of allergic conjunctival diseases, complicated by atopic dermatitis(AD) and those without AD.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The study population consisted of 52 patients with VKC (33 patients with AD, 19 without AD). Clinical severity was determined on the basis of clinical scores of conjunctival, corneal, and limbal lesions. The serum level of total IgE, the proportion of eosinophils in peripheral blood, antigen specific IgE antibodies (radioallergo sorbent test, RAST), and tear levels of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5 were measured.

RESULTS

The serum level of total IgE and the number of positive RAST antigens were significantly higher in VKC patients with AD than in those without AD. No significant difference was observed in the proportion of peripheral blood eosinophils, distribution of clinical types of VKC, or clinical severity between VKC patients with and without AD. Although tear IL-4 level in VKC patients with AD was significantly higher than in those without AD, no difference was observed in tear level of IL-5 between these groups.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that clinical features are similar or identical in VKC regardless of the presence of AD. However, it is suggested that there may be a different immunological background between VKC patients with AD and those without AD.