House Dust Mites and Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis

Abstract

The possible causative relationship between exposure to house dust mite allergen (HDMA) and symptoms of vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) was investigated. VKC patients were evaluated for an average of 18 months using patient reports of symptoms, physicians’ observations and assays of sera and tears for total and specific IgE to 10 inhalant allergens common in Israel, including HDMA. Tear and serum samples from a group of 8 patients reacted only with HDMA, and were compared with the tear and serum samples of a group of 11 patients not reacting to any of the above allergens. House dust samples from the homes of two VKC patients in the HDMA-reactive group were examined monthly for a year. While mites were detected throughout the year, they were approximately 3 times more abundant from June through September than at other times. 96.6% of the mites collected belonged to the family Pyroglyphidae; 91.0% were Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and 5.5% Dermatophagoides farinae. Both the severity of VKC symptoms in HDMA-reactive patients and mite population levels peaked simultaneously in the summer. This relationship was not seen among the non-HDMA-reactive patients. Our results suggest that exposure to HDMA plays an important role in the aggravation of VKC symptoms in HDMA-reactive patients.

Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis in School Children in Rwanda and Its Association with Socio-Economic Status: A Population-Based Survey

“…49 It is likely that the allergens responsible are area specific and small case series from Turkey have reported high levels of D. pteronyssinus -specific IgEconcentrations in patients with VKC 50 and in Israel, exposure to house dust mite played an important role in the aggravation of symptoms of VKC in patients who were known to be reactive. 51 Despite using locally relevant allergens for this study, we could not find a link between the results of the SPT or specific IgE serum tests and the presence of VKC. There are a number of possible explanations for this.…”

Abundance of house dust mites in relation to climate in contrasting agricultural settlements in Israel

“…Dust was collected in 1995 during the months of July and August, when the prevalence of mites in homes in Israel is highest ( Mumcuoglu et al . 1988 ).…”

“…Numerous studies have demonstrated that the allergens of the mites Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus , D. farinae , D. microceras and Euroglyphus maynei are associated with the onset of symptoms of rhinitis, asthma and eczema in people with atopy (summarised in the International Workshop Report 1989, 1992). House dust mites (HDM) have also been incriminated as a causative agent for sudden infant death syndrome ( Helson 1971) and vernal keratoconjunctivitis ( Mumcuoglu et al . 1988 ).…”

Allergic and Immunologic Eye Disease

“…hypopyon). 19 An estimation of the anterior chamber depth can be made by illuminating it from the side with a pen light; if the iris creates a shadow on the far side from VKC is characterized by conjunctival infiltration by eosinophils, degranulated mast cells, basophils, plasma cells, lymphocytes and macrophages.…”