New insights into childhood Vernal keratoconjunctivitis‐associated factors

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to test for detectable serum levels of antibodies usually associated with immune-related diseases in children with Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) and seek for their family history of allergies and autoimmune disorders. The association of human leukocyte antigens (HLA) with VKC was also investigated. We enrolled 181 VKC children and assessed total and specific IgE, antithyroglobulin (AbTG), antithyroidperoxidase (AbTPO), antitransglutaminase (tTG), and antinuclear antibodies (ANA) by standard procedures. Class I and II HLA typing was also carried out following standard protocols, and it was compared with that of healthy subjects. Patients were positive for AbTG (22%), AbTPO (14.6%), and ANA (15.8%), and AbTG positivity was associated with VKC severity (mean ocular score ± SD positive vs. negative: 6.56 ± 2.1 vs. 4.82 ± 2.1; p = 0.03). We found that 12.2% of VKC cases had a positive family history for psoriasis, 6.4% for other cases of VKC, and 5.2% for thyroiditis, while 50.2% of them were atopic. The expression of HLA class I B37 was significantly higher in VKC patients than in controls (7.1% vs. 2.1%, p = 0.04), although not confirmed after multiple antigens testing analysis. Our study suggests a role of common components associated with immune-based diseases in the clinical expression of VKC.

Increased Incidence of Thyroid Dysfunction and Autoimmunity in Patients with Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis

“…However, our study confirms that patients with VKC also present a higher prevalence of thyroid autoimmunity, confirming the findings of Tesse et al [7], who reported a higher rate of positivity of thyroid autoantibodies in patients with VKC compared to healthy subjects, despite the fact that thyroid function in the VKC patients was not studied. The same study also discovered that, in 181 VKC children, 22% were positive for AbTG, 14.6% for AbTPO, and 15.8% for ANA.…”

“…Our study showed that VKC patients have a significantly higher prevalence of a family history of autoimmune diseases, confirming the data of Zicari et al [6] and Tesse et al [7]. For example, Tesse et al showed that 12.2% of VKC cases had a positive family history of psoriasis; 5.2% of the patient group was positive for thyroiditis, which suggests the role of common components associated with these immune-based diseases in the development of thyroid autoimmunity [7].…”

“…For example, Tesse et al showed that 12.2% of VKC cases had a positive family history of psoriasis; 5.2% of the patient group was positive for thyroiditis, which suggests the role of common components associated with these immune-based diseases in the development of thyroid autoimmunity [7]. …”

“…However, recent data reported that VKC patients may have a higher frequency of a family history of autoimmune disorders [6], thyroid autoantibodies [7], and antinuclear antibodies (ANA) [6, 8]. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of abnormalities of thyroid function and autoimmunity in a cohort of patients with VKC.…”

Risk of allergic conjunctivitis in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus: a population-based retrospective cohort study

“…14 Recent data have suggested that patients with VKC may have a higher frequency of a family history of autoimmune disorders, antinuclear antibodies and autoimmune thyroid disease. [14][15][16][17] In addition, VKC is more common in the tropics than in northern climates. However, although VKC is a common disorder, particularly in Asia, most Asian patients with AC are diagnosed as having SAC and PAC.…”