PURPOSE: To identify clinical, demographic, immunologic, and health-related quality-of-life data from a cohort of vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) patients with the onset of the disease after puberty (VKC-like disease). DESIGN: Retrospective, observational case series. METHODS: Forty-nine patients with late-onset VKC-like disease from among 600 consecutive VKC patients. History of disease, test results for allergen sensitivity, signs and symptoms, impact of disease on work productivity, health-related quality of life, and treatment satisfaction were assessed. In addition, multiplex bead analysis for Th1/Th2 cytokines were carried out in tear samples from 20 VKC patients (10 adults and 10 children) and from 10 normal subjects. RESULTS: A family history of allergy was positive in only 28% and positive prick test results were present in 55% of the 49 VKC-like adult patients. Based on typical signs and symptoms, 48% were affected by the limbal form, 33% were affected by the tarsal form, and 19% were affected by the mixed form. Corneal ulcer complicated the disease in only 2 adult patients. Although the disease was not considered a limiting factor for work, productivity was reduced by 26% and social activities were reduced by 31% during active flare-ups. No significant differences were found in tear cytokine pattern production between VKC in children and VKC in adults. CONCLUSIONS: A late onset VKC-like disease can appear in young adults with signs and symptoms similar to those in pediatric disease, but with less corneal involvement.

Vernal keratoconjunctivitis-like disease in adults

LEONARDI, ANDREA;FREGONA, IVA
2013

Abstract

PURPOSE: To identify clinical, demographic, immunologic, and health-related quality-of-life data from a cohort of vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) patients with the onset of the disease after puberty (VKC-like disease). DESIGN: Retrospective, observational case series. METHODS: Forty-nine patients with late-onset VKC-like disease from among 600 consecutive VKC patients. History of disease, test results for allergen sensitivity, signs and symptoms, impact of disease on work productivity, health-related quality of life, and treatment satisfaction were assessed. In addition, multiplex bead analysis for Th1/Th2 cytokines were carried out in tear samples from 20 VKC patients (10 adults and 10 children) and from 10 normal subjects. RESULTS: A family history of allergy was positive in only 28% and positive prick test results were present in 55% of the 49 VKC-like adult patients. Based on typical signs and symptoms, 48% were affected by the limbal form, 33% were affected by the tarsal form, and 19% were affected by the mixed form. Corneal ulcer complicated the disease in only 2 adult patients. Although the disease was not considered a limiting factor for work, productivity was reduced by 26% and social activities were reduced by 31% during active flare-ups. No significant differences were found in tear cytokine pattern production between VKC in children and VKC in adults. CONCLUSIONS: A late onset VKC-like disease can appear in young adults with signs and symptoms similar to those in pediatric disease, but with less corneal involvement.
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.
Pubblicazioni consigliate

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11577/2658453
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 6
  • Scopus 36
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 36
  • OpenAlex ND
social impact