Are cutaneous hypersensitivity tests to inhalant allergens a severity marker for vernal keratoconjunctivitis?

Abstract

Our study demonstrated poor correlation between cutaneous hypersensitivity tests and clinical findings in patients with vernal keratoconjuntivitis. We concluded that skin response to inhalant allergens is not a useful test to identify clinical severity and chronicity of inflammatory process in this disease.

Systemic Atopy and Immunoglobulin Deficiency in Turkish Patients with Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis

“…VKC usually starts before the age of 10 years and disappears in the second decade. 2,4,7,9,11,12,28 In our study group, the mean age at onset was 7.3 ± 3.0 years and in 86.6% of patients, the disease started before the age of 10 years, similar to the findngs of European populations (Table 1).…”

“…The disease is more common among males, with the male-to-female ratio reported in the literature varying from 4:1 to 1.5:1 (Table 1). 2,4,[7][8][9]11,12,28,32 In the present study, the male-to-female ratio was found to be 3.79. VKC usually starts before the age of 10 years and disappears in the second decade.…”

“…In the study of Leonardi et al 4 the most frequent associated disease was rhinitis (30.1%), followed by eczema (16.3%), asthma (14.6%), and urticaria (4.9%). In the study of Augusto de Oliveira et al, 12 allergic rhinitis (70%) and asthma (35%) were the most predominant atopic diseases. The measurement of total IgE in serum is useful for the identification of a generalized atopic state in VKC.…”

“…12,28,32 In the study of Augusto de Oliveira et al, 12 75% of the patients demonstrated hypersensitivity to at least one of the allergens. However, the mean clinical severity score did not differ between subjects with and without cutaneous hypersensitivity.…”

“…2,4,[7][8][9] On the other hand, VKC patients with or without IgE sensitization show the same clinical and conjunctival inflammatory findings. [10][11][12] The clinical and histopathological changes associated with VKC have been demonstrated to be both type I and…”